Bring on the office tower loan
Regarding the loan of $59 million which the City of New Westminster is proposing to undertake to finance the building of a tower on top of the new civic center; I say bring it on.
Lovely period architecture aside, the Downtown area has been an eyesore and a dead zone for over 20 years and it’s finally being kick started back into existence. Finally.
Transportation routes are being redeveloped. We have ample rapid transit into New Westminster and through New West onto other areas. There is a new truck route being developed on the other side of the Fraser to help funnel the noise and din we must still endure from heavy rigs and container trucks. And, let’s face it, the train yard is not going away anytime soon. Thank God.
I read Letters to the Editor about what a boondoggle this new office tower is going to be. The fact James Crosty has started a formidable campaign to garner enough votes to stop the funding for the project causes me to shake my head. What a waste of time and energy. Surely he might have something better to do to champion development in this city. Our city desperately needs alternatives to being a truck route or light industrial zoned bedroom community.
The Downtown core is expanding exponentially. Residential towers are going in, retail and entertainment are arriving, and we need to provide environmentally responsible options to having our city developed. As well, there will be far more people trying to stay on the west side of the Fraser when the new, tolled Port Mann Bridge is completed. This tower is forecast to provide tax returns of $50 million over the next 50 years.
Class A office towers which are LEED Gold designated are in short supply in the Lower Mainland and we should be honoured to welcome such a development to our city, regardless of the boondoggle Mr.Crosty and others are trying to spin in order to keep New Westminster in the Dark Ages.
Marek Kociolek
New Westminster
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