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BYE-BYE VIADUCT HELLO GREENERY


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City planners' favoured plan (vancouver. ca/viaducts) for the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts would see the raised roadways torn down and a 10- hectare park created.

Although the proposal favoured by Vancouver planners would see the viaducts razed, an elevated park similar to the High Line remains possible, says Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs.

"That keeps coming up," Meggs said Wednesday. "I think it would be wonderful."

However, city staff have said it would cost eight to 10 million dollars over the next 15 years just to maintain the viaduct structures. And Meggs noted that developing elevated park areas would create "problematic" areas underneath.

However, putting park space on the viaducts rather than in one sprawling area on the ground would enable development on the surface level.

Judging by the success of the High Line, which developers are falling all over themselves to get beside, land near any viaduct parks would be highly sought after for commercial and residential development.

And what better use for the problematic areas beneath than parking for homes and businesses located along the park area?

Because the viaducts are more than double the width of the rail line upon which the High Line was built, there would be plenty of room for dedicated lanes for cyclists, pedestrians, runners and in-line skaters.

Furthermore, Vancouver has far superior views than does Manhattan, and would outshine the High Line with stunning mountain and skyline vistas. Even preserving one viaduct as a park would make more sense than destroying both.

More public consultation on the viaduct plans will take place at city-run open houses June 5 at the Wood-ward's Atrium, June 7 at the Creek-side Community Centre and June 9

Source: The Province

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