A job for VUAN...

[Peter]

We've been working on a variety of issues with a view to being a
resource for gardeners and stakeholders either involved in gardening,
next door to gardens, etc.
Well, here is an opportunity to function in just such a way.

The challenge:
About 12 years ago, the City of Vancouver bought a right of way from
the Canadian Pacific Railway which runs from the Cambie St bridge to a
point immediately south of Granville Island. The existing railway
line is used by the Downtown Historic Railway on weekends from mid-May
'till mid-October. The two historic interurban trolley cars operating
on the line are electrically powered, and are part of a pilot project
to reintroduce clean, 'green' public transit back to Vancouver.
The entire right of way was once industrial, and although there is
some 'naturalization' of the land taking place, there is also a
significant presence of invasive species. There have been chemical
spills both from the industries that once lined the south shore of
False Creek, and from the operation of the railway line by the CPR.

Some attempts have been made to garden land near the railway, and this
has been discouraged by the City, mostly because the land is
unsuitable for growing food. The was an active guerilla gardener who
did some beautiful heritage plantings at the Granville Island Station
[with enthusiastic approval by the DHR], but this individual has
disappeared.

The Downtown Historic Railway would like to forge positive relations
with its neighbours and would like to make the lands it uses as
attractive as possible. There are people living in the area willing
to help this happen.

What is needed is a policy guideline that is compatible with City
policy, and perhaps an action plan to beautify the area, starting with
the area immediately adjacent to the carbarn and rectifier buildings
located just east of Moberly, and south of Commodore, west of the
Canada Line construction site.

Shall we put this on the agenda for next meeting? Are we ready for
this?

[David Tracey]

not sure if it's a policy guideline that's needed or something else
specific to this site? i'm still confused over whether it's city land
entirely or what. if so, and it's a community garden being discussed,
then i guess the city's new guidelines on community gardens might
apply, even if in this case they were to grow only flowers (or
possibly still food in raised beds).

anyway it sounds worth talking about to me...