Province
Province readers believe the essence of Granville Island’s charm lies in its small shops. Photograph by : Jon Murray, The Province
Letter
Keep Granville Island as it is. Paint it, give it structural support but definitely keep its local business focus.
I live near Broadway and MacDonald, where many local businesses are closing down to be replaced by chain stores like Starbucks and Cobbs.
Vancouver‘s Fourth Avenue has become this gentrified, Kitsilano version of Robson Street.
Do not try to make Granville Island a tourist destination, it already is that.
Keep it as a market for food, beverages, restaurants and artisans. Help it maintain its emphasis on commercial boating recreation.
Please, please don’t change it. Pay attention to the needs and wishes of the current tenants. They are the front-line people who have put their time, energy and money into making Granville Island work.
Listen to them — don’t hire outsiders to do some kind of “study.”
Kathy MacLennan,
Vancouver
Keep Granville Island‘s charm
Letter
Big-box stores, chain coffee shops and restaurants should never be allowed on Granville Island.
Its exquisite blend of art, craft, assorted foods, bakeries, specialty stores and the food market are what make Granville Island so very special and one of my favourite places to visit.
Installing bike lock-ups is a great idea but standardized parking is not. The current free three-hour parking, plus special parking for tour buses and indoor and outdoor paid parking spaces, is a perfect blend of options.
Widening the island’s docks and expanding ferry service is potentially a good idea, providing it doesn’t increase the number of visitors to unsafe levels.
Linking the island by street car or heritage rail could create too much congestion in the event of an emergency such as a fire.
Jane Saborio,
Surrey
© The Vancouver Province 2006