Evergreen line gets some funding stability.

TransLink is suddenly on more stable long-term financial footing after the federal government pledged its practise of sharing federal gas tax revenue will become permanent policy.
The commitment was included in the Conservative government's budget handed down Tuesday and TransLink board chair Dale Parker called it "fantastic news."
TransLink will get $49 million from Ottawa this year – a share of federal fuel tax collected from this region – and the transfers are expected to grow to $123 million by 2010.
But the program was to expire in 2015 and until now federal officials had made no guarantee it would be extended.
TransLink had long lobbied for a permanent share of the gas tax, the lack of which had been an ongoing cloud over the authority's outlook.
With the uncertainty lifted, Parker said the ongoing stream of gas tax revenue can now be used to back borrowing for large-scale transit expansions.
"Even at this year's rate, today's budget means that TransLink could finance half a billion dollars in improvements," Parker said.
The tax handover is expected to continue to escalate in the years ahead beyond 2010.
The Evergreen Line extending the SkyTrain network to Coquitlam will also get a share of $500 million the Conservatives earmarked for public transit infrastructure in Tuesday's budget.
TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie said the federal contribution is expected to be $67 million over two years, but added more may be possible.
The provincial government hopes Ottawa will eventually commit $400 million to the rapid transit line, matching $400 million pledges from Victoria and TransLink.
The cost of the project has grown to an estimated $1.4 billion in recent weeks, leaving a significant amount unfunded even with a full federal share.
Parker said the federal pledge "is a signal that we are closer to a 'go'" for the Evergreen Line.
"TransLink is poised to move forward once we have the results of the current public consultation."http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/Fed_gas_tax_pledge_aids_TransLink.html

Cambie st

Although the neighbourhood is pretty much a keep away zone for most other people in the city because of Canada Line construction it is still a quiet,beautiful neighbourhood. When you walk down the street you get the community feel of the street with its stores,locals, youth and a sense of familiarity and home with its independent shops. Many iconic places have had to close like Don Dons and Tomato but places like the park theatre, Jack hair salon, Choices and Black Dog video and its residents are keeping the neighbourhood alive even if the province is trying to kill it.

Fraser Valley Light Rail

Currently 850,000 residents living in the Fraser Valley have no access to a skytrain type service. There is a interurban railway track system that was laid out 100years ago which goes from Chilliwack to Abbotsford, Langley, Cloverdale,Newton and finally to Scott Road. There is mass public support for this project but so far no official in the government is touching the idea

Fitness centre at old Storyeum in Gastown?

Why on earth is city council considering a fitness centre at a historic place at the old storeyeum building?. Gastown is not Yaletown or Kits or Coal harbour or anyother generic neighbourhood its one of few neighbourhoods that remains raw and historical back to Vancouver's roots. A bowling alley is also proposed instead of a fitness centre. The only thing that is good here is some time of arts museum or studio/museum or into retail or something to engage tourists.

For the full article http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=dc679db5-3afc-479f-a016-7d1462874cc1&k=12656

6 new buildings bought by Province for housing

The B.C. government has purchased six more rooming houses on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to house the homeless, Premier Gordon Campbell announced Thursday.
"The acquisition of these buildings means a brighter future for people who will be able to have housing with support services to stabilize their lives and regain their independence," said Campbell.
The six buildings were all current or former single-room-occupancy hotels, and three were vacant buildings, said the Premier.
The purchase brings the total number of hotels bought by the province over the past year to provide housing to 16.
"This is the latest in a series of investments we are making to provide new hope and opportunities for people through increased affordable housing options in Vancouver," said Campbell.
The province paid a total of $23.7 million for the six buildings.
The next step will be assessments to determine the physical condition of each building and develop renovation plans, said the premier. Then the province will select non-profit agencies to manage the buildings and provide support services to residents.
"With today's announcement, we have committed to more than 2,400 new provincially-subsidized units in Vancouver since last April," said Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for housing.
At the Vancouver news conference, Campbell also denied rumours the government has plans to redevelop the Riverview hospital site in Coquitlam.
An article in the Vancouver Sun on Thursday outlined detailed plans to fund the redevelopment of the psychiatric hospital with the development of up to 30,000 residential condo units on the 98-hectare hospital grounds site.

Canada's Poorest neighbourhood

Canada's poorest neigbourhood although being depressing due to the amount of poverty and drug addiction available to see is one of the most unique and beautiful neighbourhoods in the city. It's a neighbourhood that I enjoy walking through as one can see how although it is so poor just blocks away you have condos coming closer and closer with boutiques just blocks away with tourists and restauraunts.If a society is measured on how it takes care of people who cant take care of themselves then we get an F. Yet they are in a neighbourhood that is so real and that is hard to see in Vancouver now with all these condos and gentifrication popping up. The DTES has history, beautiful buildings and the raw real part of the city.

Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant and Main street is growing and becoming more eclectic and exciting as it grows. Galleries, restauraunts, new boutiques and cafes. Most importantly they are majority independently owned!

It has also become a expensive place to live as gentrification keeps moving more east. Thr architecture in south main is beautiful from the heritage homes to the NEC on 5th and Main and cafes that make you feel you are at someones house like soma on 8th and main or the whip on 6th and main.