Worries over height and traffic with Burnaby tower proposal
Posted August 29, 2012 6:36 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BURNABY (NEWS1130) – People in Burnaby gathered last night to weigh in on plans for a development that includes huge towers at Brentwood Town Centre.
Longtime city councillor Nick Volkow says for the most part, reception has been fairly positive. He says most people like the idea of turning the old mall into a new and improved entertainment and shopping district.
“Brentwood, when you look at it, is one of the oldest subdivisions and earliest malls in Canada, not just Western Canada. People say it’s a little tired… people are looking to see what’s going on. I mean, the whole area has been in a real fundamental transition in the last five years,” says VolkAow.
But he points out some are worried about transportation and the tall towers. If things go as planned for the Shape Properties, a few buildings could reach up to 70 storeys.
“The concerns that people have… one obviously is going to be the traffic issue. Secondly, some people raise issues in regards to the potential height of two of the buildings,” explains Volkow.
“Lougheed and Willingdon intersection, that corridor is no more or no less congested than the King George Highway, or Cambie and Oaks Street in Vancouver or anywhere else, so that’s an argument that’s not going to sway me too much,” he argues.
Volkow adds many people are in favour of the complex because it’s right beside rapid transit. A lot of people welcome the continuing growth in the neighbourhood, as he says the plan will revitalize one of the oldest shopping areas in Burnaby.
