Thread by @BillTieleman

I spoke in opposition Tuesday to #Vancouver City Council designating a SkyTrain station in the proposed Jericho Lands enormous luxury towers development in West Point Grey/#Kitsilano - unfortunately Council made the wrong decision... 1/ #vanpoli #bcpoli

Let’s start with the multiple 38 storey, 32 storey & 20 storey luxury towers planned for Jericho. This development for up to 20,000 people is completely out of all proportion to the neighbourhood & #Vancouver. #vanpoli #bcpoli

But this Jericho Lands development has not been approved by #Vancouver. And the proposed UBC SkyTrain extension has no business case let alone funding. But Council ignored that, except for Councillor @CllrHardwick, who was the only no vote. #vanpoli #bcpoli /3

Not only is there no business case for the UBC SkyTrain extension, the $30-$40 million study has not happened. And there is no funding for the proposed extension committed yet. So why this vote? #Vancouver #vanpoli #bcpoli /4

No business case, no SkyTrain funding, definitely no shovels in the ground but #Vancouver Council debated locating a station at the Jericho Lands - what’s up with that?! #VanPoli #bcpoli /5

Locating a SkyTrain station in the Jericho Lands luxury towers development is worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to the developers. This was a marketing decision - not a city planning or transit planning decision. #Vancouver #vanpoli #bcpoli /6

#Vancouver Council’s support for a SkyTrain station in the Jericho lands development is completely premature & will significantly impact land values in the area. But mostly it boosts the cost of that already luxury housing. #vanpoli #bcpoli /7

To be clear, I do not oppose the possible extension of SkyTrain to the University of BC if & when needed. But I do oppose the Jericho Lands luxury tower proposal & #Vancouver Council boosting it’s already enormous potential value. #vanpoli #bcpoli /8

And while #Vancouver is facing 4 stranger attacks a day, massive business break-ins, potholes & broken roads, it is unconscionable Council is making a possible SkyTrain station decision as if it’s urgent. Other issues are urgent! #vanpoli #bcpoli /9

#Vancouver Is facing an important crossroads on what kind of city it will be. Despite good intentions, everything a Council majority has done so far has resulted in hugely higher rents & higher home prices. #banooli #bcpoli /10

Council promoting the Jericho Lands luxury towers development to create a “Metrotown by the sea” as I call it, will not do anything for affordable housing or a better city. #Vancouver will be much worse if this proceeds. #vanpoli #bcpoli /11

#Vancouver can be much better than this; it can create more affordable housing instead of luxury towers; it can fix today’s problems; it can listen to the citizens who oppose this massive development; it’s still our city. #vanpoli #bcpoli /12