DRA News & Events

January 2009 Events

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:37:22 -0800

*Tuesday, Jan 6, 7:30 - 9:30 PM: DRA Board Meeting, Dunbar Community Centre

*Tuesday, Jan 27, 7:30 PM: Dunbar Garden Club, Dunbar Community Centre

Stanley Park After the Storm - Patricia Thomson
Patricia is Executive Director of Stanley Park Ecology Society.
She will describe the effect of the 2006 storm and the remediation work that followed.
Drop-in fee $3.00

Dunbar Annas Humming Birds, depend upon humans in many ways this cold winter

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:37:59 -0800

The cold temperature require a mix of one third cup of sugar to one cup of distilled water in this cold weather and watch in the daytime for freezing. Bring the feeder in the evening when it is completely dark.

The most important thing is to return the feeder to the same location just before it is light in the morning, full to the top with warm sugar water. Increase the sugar if the temperature gets real low, minus 10. I kind of like the tube feeder and I place mine in a dry outside, "under porch cover location". The Wild Bird Store on Oak Street has lots of good suggestions.

I was late yesterday morning and our Anna's probably had to make a desperate energy depleting flight on to the next feeding location in the neighborhood of Dunbar .

I had a email yesterday asking "where do they go to sleep during the cold nights?" I kind of watched and observed the evening direction of flight a few years ago and found out it was a very old house 2 blocks away with what I noticed was numerous heat leaks in the roof overhang eves. That was the night time roosting place for our hummer. Annas just snuggle down and cut back on their life giving heart beats to survive the cold nights.

The key thing for their survival is that their first energy depleting flight in the morning must be to a feeder that is NOT FROZEN, to replenish their energy for a day of many visits to a few human humming bird feeders in the Dunbar area.

Yes we are dedicated" Anna's People" but it is just a little harder to throw back our warm bed blankets in the very early morning and say "Its time for our Anna's to arrive".

Terry Slack"

Please feel free to pass on this message and the Sugar to distilled water mix for Annas is very important ! !

The Holidays in Dunbar Village!

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 09:43:31 -0800

Shop, dine, or simply visit in your community and explore the wonderful shops and services Dunbar has to offer.

Enter to win at any Dunbar Business. Prizes will be drawn during Cheer Day on December 20^th.

Win Dunbar Dollars!
More than $500 in prizes! (redeemable at any store in Dunbar)
Lots of great prizes from merchants!

Mark these dates and come out to enjoy the fun:

SATURDAY & SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 & 7

Strolling Carollers 1:30 - 3:30 pm

SATURDAY DECEMBER 13

Strolling Carollers 1:00 -3:00 pm

SATURDAY DECEMBER 20

1^st Annual Cheer Day in Dunbar -- Surprises and Delights in Dunbar businesses
Horse Drawn Carriage rides 1:00 - 4:00 pm (North Dunbar 1-2, Central Dunbar 2-3, South Dunbar 3-4)

'Tis the season to enjoy the holidays in your own community.

Recent Board Minutes

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 23:50:00 -0800

DRA 2008-09 Board of Directors

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 23:15:48 -0800

2008-2009 Board of Directors

Co-Presidents	Susan Chapman & George Pinch
Vice President	Robert Westendorp
Treasurer	Sonia Wicken
Secretary	Caroline Astell
Member at Large	Jonathan Baker
Member at Large	Gerard Charlton
Member at Large	Ellen Hockin (web liaison)
Member at Large	Bob Lesperance
Member at Large	Linda MacAdam
Member at Large	Colleen McGuinness
Member at Large	Ellen Oerzen
Member at Large	Hareesh Sara
Member at Large	Walter Wells

2008-2009 Board of Directors Biographies

CAROLINE ASTELL
Caroline is a fourth year member of the DRA Board. She has lived in Dunbar most of her life, with the exception of a 7 year period when she resided in NYC, Toronto and Calgary. Caroline is recently retired from a career as a Professor at UBC followed by three years in research at the BC Cancer Agency. She is interested in seniors' issues including affordable housing for seniors who are no longer able to stay in their own homes. Caroline's other interests include gardening, golfing and traveling.

JONATHAN BAKER
Jonathan Baker is a specialist in Municipal Law with the firm of Baker & Baker. In the early sixties he was a journalist with the Vancouver Province. From 1969 to 1975 he was a social planner with Vancouver's Social Planning Department. He was a founding trustee and first program Director of the Vancouver Academy of Music. In 1976 he was appointed to the Granville Island Trust and was one of five Trustees who oversaw the development of Granville Island. Between 1978 and 1985 he was a Trustee of the Vancouver School Board and in 1986 he was elected to Vancouver City Council where he served for two terms. He was also a Trustee of the Library Board and the Pacific National Exhibition and a founding director of the Vancouver Contemporary Art Gallery. When not practicing law he spends his time babysitting an ever increasing number of grandchildren.

SUSAN CHAPMAN
Susan Chapman has lived with her family in Dunbar for 25 years, except for a few intermittent time periods lived in Hong Kong, rural Nova Scotia, England, Ottawa and Denman Island. She is a former lawyer, whose community activities have included involvement in various youth sports organizations and four years as a director of the Learning Disabilities Association of Vancouver. She and her husband, Robin Elliot, have four children, Kirsten, Michael, Sophie and Victoria. She has served on the DRA board for four years and has a particular interest in preserving the community's green space.

GERARD CHARLTON
Gerard Charlton was born and raised in Dunbar, attending Queen Elizabeth Elementary and Lord Byng High School. At the age of 19, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a pilot and enjoyed a 13 year career in Canada's Air Force as a Search & Rescue helicopter pilot and jet training instructor. During his military duties he also completed a peacekeeping tour of duty in the Sinai Peninsula during 1988. In 1995 he joined British Aerospace and was employed as a flight instructor, training Royal Saudi Air Force pilots and navigators in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for 9 years. In 2004 he and his family returned to Canada and settled in the Dunbar neighbourhood. Gerard is active in coaching both soccer and baseball teams in Dunbar as well as being president of the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club. He is married to his wife, Stephanie, and has two children, Braeden and Calli. Upon his return to Canada in 2004 (on his second day back), he was recruited to join the DRA board by Sonia Wicken.

ELLEN HOCKIN
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Ellen escaped "the mistake on the Lake" and settled in Vancouver in 1979. She is thankful every day to reside in this beautiful, livable city. Ellen and Vancouverite husband, Gordon, have lived on both the east and west sides of the city and have been Dunbar residents since 1984. They have two lovely and amazing daughters, both currently attending UBC. Ellen's volunteer activities include many years at her daughters' schools helping in the classroom and working on PAC projects. She has also been an active participant in community activities and is currently working with neighburs on planting the Blenheim Street bulges. Ellen's interests include gardening, cooking and music. She is looking forward to continuing in her role as web liaison for the DRA website.

BOB LESPERANCE

LINDA MACADAM
Linda is passionate about Dunbar, so has just returned for a fourth year as a board member. She is the chairperson and founding member of the Dunbar Community Patrol, a member of the Dunbar Vision Implementation Committee, a past member of the Salmonberry Days Committee and past president of the Dunbar Residents’ Association. Linda has lived in the same house in Dunbar for the first 25 years and the last 13 years of her life, which gives her a perspective of our neighbourhood over several decades. She remembers when doors were left unlocked during the day, when mothers had coffee together at one another’s houses, and the children all played outside in yards and in the park without supervision. Childhood in Dunbar in the 1950s was wonderful! Linda works as an IT business analyst on a contract basis. Her interests include city politics, her dog MacKenzie and cat Smudgie, contra dancing, sailing and reading.

COLLEEN MCGUINNESS
Colleen has been a resident of the neighbourhood since the early 1980s. She is self-employed and works with a variety of clients involved with international relations and small business. Colleen believes that it is important for Dunbar to provide the intimate community connection that residents need in a large impersonal city. Her special interests include seniors' housing, accessibility and universal design and aging in place. Colleen is a keen gardener and reader and a big fan of the Dunbar Library and shopping locally.

ELLEN OERZEN
Born and bred in Victoria, Ellen moved to Dunbar in 2004 with her husband and two children. As a young family moving to the big city, they appreciate the liveability of Dunbar's quiet tree lined streets, walks to schools and parks, and their friendly neighbours of all ages who value the same. Not easy to find and worth fighting for! Ellen's political interest is at the grass roots civic level. Of particular concern is the environment, preservation of local green-space and keeping Dunbar a safe community. Disrespect of resident integrity by larger and impersonal City Hall agendas do not make for livable nor affordable neighbourhoods. Ellen joins the DRA in the hopes to contribute to our local uniqueness.

GEORGE PINCH
George has been a Dunbar resident for over 40 years, having had the good sense to come here in 1966. He is a retired Professional Engineer (U of Sask. '57), his last employment being with BC Hydro in their Power Smart program. George and his wife, Lorna, have 5 children, all of whom attended Queen Elizabeth School and Lord Byng High School, and 11 grandchildren. George is interested in preserving the quiet, law-abiding character of Dunbar, while seeing that population density is added in a reasonable manner compatible with the existing character of the neighbourhood while not excluding different housing styles. He is also interested in seeing that Dunbar acquires some suitable seniors housing, inasmuch, as he says, he himself may need it within the next 15 years. George is also a keen gardener.

HAREESH SARA
Hareesh was born and raised in Dunbar. His parents had settled in Dunbar in 1955. He attended Southlands Primary and Elementary Schools and Point Grey Secondary School. He completed an undergraduate degree in Business and Commerce and a Master's Business Degree, both at UBC. By profession Hareesh is a Chartered Accountant, having completed his articles with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (formerly Coopers & Lybrand). Since 1992 Hareesh has worked for the Intergulf Development Group. At present he is the company's CFO and a director. Intergulf is active in real estate development in British Columbia, Alberta and California and has completed numerous projects on Vancouver's west side. Hareesh and his Maritime born wife Andrea (who is a member of the Dunbar Seniors Housing Committee) and their son Teegan (age 2) moved back to Dunbar two years ago from Kitsilano. Hareesh's primary reason for recently joining the DRA board is to give back to a wonderful community and to help ensure that Dunbar's charm and character is retained.

WALTER WELLS
Walter is a long time Dunbar realtor. He lives just around the corner from Chaldecott Park with his wife Beryl and his two young children Colin and Caitie. Walter comes to the DRA with 15 years' board experience. Most notably he is past president (and still board member) of the Three Links Society which operates a 90 bed seniors' care facility, a 42 unit low rental housing facility, and 2 houses for sick children - all located in the Renfrew neighbourhood of East Vancouver. He is the Board liaison with the Dunbar Village Business Association.

ROBERT WESTENDORP
Robert immediately fell in love with this welcoming City when he came here from Germany with his family 10 years ago. Moving to Dunbar marked his decision to stay here. Over the years Robert has become interested in local political issues and neighborhood activities. Now he would like the chance to give back to the community. He feels that a young and evolving city like Vancouver needs strong community input. Robert has a PhD in electrical engineering and enjoys running, skiing, mountaineering, woodworking and most of all being with the family.

SONIA WICKEN
My husband Ken and I have lived in Dunbar for over 40 years and I have always enjoyed volunteering in the neighbourhood whether at school, baseball or soccer while our son and daughter were involved. The last 15 years I've been involved with the Residents Association. My interest is in building liaisons with other neighbourhood organizations so Dunbar will continue to be such a livable neighbourhood.

Civic Election Nov 15

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:00:00 -0800

NOVEMBER 16 UPDATE: ELECTION RESULTS

Below are the unofficial results of the election. The elected candidates are listed in order of votes received.

You can view detailed election results on the City's election website.

MAYOR	Gregor Robertson	Vision

COUNCILLORS	Raymond Louie	Vision
	Heather Deal	Vision
	Geroge Chow	Vision
	Kerry Jang	Vision
	Andrea Reimer	Vision
	Tim Stevenson	Vision
	David Cadman	COPE
	Suzanne Anton	NPA
	Geoff Meggs	Vision
	Ellen Woodsworth	COPE

PARK COMMISSIONERS	Constance Barnes	Vision
	Aaron Jasper	Vision
	Sarah Blyth	Vision
	Loretta Woodcock	COPE
	Raj Hundal	Vision
	Stuart MacKinnon	Green
	Ian Robertson	NPA

SCHOOL TRUSTEES	Patti Bacchus	Vision
	Mike Lombardi	Vision
	Ken Clement	Vision
	Sharon Gregson	Vision
	Allan Wong	COPE
	Al Blakey	COPE
	Jane Bouey	COPE
	Ken Denike	NPA
	Carol Gibson	NPA

All 3 Borrowing Questions Passed

It's that time again ...

Saturday, November 15 is MUNICIPAL ELECTION DAY and your opportunity to elect

the new Mayor of Vancouver
10 City Councillors
9 School Trustees
7 Park Commissioners

Did you know that all voters are now eligible to vote in advance? Advance voting will take place on Nov 5, 8, 10 & 12 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at five locations around the city including the Dunbar Community Centre.

For comprehensive information on voting in Vancouver, including candidate profiles, the City has posted a special Election 2008 website: Vancouver Votes.

Additional information on many of the candidates can also be found on their parties' websites: COPE, NPA and Vision Vancouver.

As Dunbar residents know, the DRA held a Council Candidates' Meeting during our November 3rd AGM. Participants included mayoral candidates Peter Ladner & Gregor Robertson and Councillor candidates Suzanne Anton, David Cadman, Michael Geller, Raymond Louie, Geoff Meggs & Ellen Woodsworth. Notes are being prepared on the Q&A session and will be posted to this website when available.

Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver, an ad hoc coalition of neighbourhood groups across the city, sent a questionnaire to the COPE, NPA and Vision mayoral and councillor candidates soliciting their views on a number of neighbourhood issues.

Following are excerpts from the Coalition's report on responses they have received to date from the candidates.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

NEIGHBOURHOODS FOR A SUSTAINABLE VANCOUVER

Attached are the results from the candidate questionnaires [click on each party to link to their response/s: COPE, NPA, Vision] on issues important to our neighbourhood groups from across the city.

ANALYSIS:

David Cadman and Ellen Woodsworth, the COPE Team

They filled in one questionnaire [click here for COPE response] for both candidates, and they clearly said yes to almost all of our questions.

They commit to:

neighbourhood based planning processes should be implemented through CityPlan as the primary basis for future planning
objective and meaningful public consultation
an extension of the EcoDensity public process to address the outstanding concerns raised
reinstating third party appeals
civic party financing, disclosure, donation and campaign reform

Gregor Robertson and the Vision Vancouver Team

They filled out one questionnaire [click here for Vision response] for all the Vision Vancouver candidates. Vision said yes to almost all of our questions and commit to the same as COPE above....

Peter Ladner and the NPA Team

All the NPA candidates were sent the questionnaire individually, twice each directly.

The NPA Campaign Manager was also sent the questionnaire requesting a NPA party response. We were told by the Campaign Manager that the NPA is non-partisan and does not have a party position, but they would send it on to the individual candidates.

This is in contrast to the fact that the NPA party has made statements to the media on a party platform and has voted as a block on almost every issue at Council during their term.

We have not received questionnaires back from any of the NPA candidates that are now on Council, only from three of the new NPA candidates, so those returns [click here for the 3 individual NPA candidates' responses] are attached. ...

NEIGHBOURHOODS FOR A SUSTAINABLE VANCOUVER

NB: the full Coalition report has been posted to the Dunbar Neighbours interactive list.

16th & Dunbar Development

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0800

NOV 10 UPDATE

Dunbar Apartments
Operations Management Plan Review Meeting #5
Thursday,November 20, 2008

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street

AGENDA

Review of process to date
Review of Draft 2 OMP (section by section)
Review of Draft 2 CAC Terms of Reference (section by section)

This is the final meeting to receive input on the revised draft Operations Management Plan (OMP) for the Dunbar Apartments, a project that will provide housing and services for low-income people, disabled people and individuals with mental health issues who currently reside in the Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano areas, or whose origins were these communities.

This project will be operated by Coast Mental Health Society and residents will be referred by Vancouver Coastal Health, Yaffa Housing Society, St. George's Place Housing Society and BC Housing.

We will also be reviewing the revised draft Terms of Reference for the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for this facility.

Any additional suggestions for further changes will be considered by Coast Mental Health in the development of an Operations Management Plan that will be submitted to the City of Vancouver as part of the conditions for a development permit.

An independent report will be prepared by the facilitator of this and the preceding four consultation meetings documenting all input received and how this input was used in the OMP or why it was not used, as the case may be. This report will also be provided to those who have attended the public meetings and will be on Coast Mental Health's website.

OCT 29 UPDATE

Dunbar Apartments
Operations Management Plan Review Meeting #4
Thursday, October 30, 2008

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.,
Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street

AGENDA

Community Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
- Purpose
- Membership
- Time Commitment
- Attendance
- Meeting Structure
- Rules of Conduct
- Revision of Terms of Reference
- Committee Termination

Click here for Detailed Agenda

Click here for Draft CAC Terms of Reference

This is the fourth in a series of 4 meetings to receive input on the draft Operations Management Plan (OMP) for the Dunbar Apartments, a project that will provide housing and services for low-income people, disabled people and individuals with mental health issues who currently reside in the Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano areas, or whose origins were these communities. This project will be operated by Coast Mental Health Society and residents will be referred by Vancouver Coastal Health, Yaffa Housing Society, St. George's Place Housing Society and BC Housing.

Input gathered at these meetings will be considered by Coast Mental Health in a second draft OMP.

This second draft OMP will be presented at a public meeting on November 20th with another opportunity for public comment.

These comments will also be considered by Coast Mental Health in the development of an Operations Management Plan that will be submitted to the City of Vancouver as part of the conditions for a development permit.

An independent report will be prepared by the facilitator of these meetings documenting all input received and how this input was used in the OMP or why it was not used, as the case may be.

OCT 15 UPDATE

Dunbar Apartments
Operations Management Plan Review Meeting #3
Thursday, October 16, 2008

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.,
Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street

AGENDA

Good Neighbour Practices
Neighbourhood Relations - Staff Liaison with Community
24 hr Emergency Response
Evaluation

Click here for DETAILED AGENDA

SEPT 29 UPDATE

Dunbar Apartments
Operations Management Plan Review Meeting #2
Thursday, October 2, 2008

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.,
Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street

AGENDA

• Program Support and Methodology
• Staffing and Support Services
• Programs
• Safety and Security

Click here for DETAILED AGENDA

SEPT 9 UPDATE

Dunbar Apartments
Operations Management Plan Review Meeting

Time 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., September 11, 2008

Dunbar Community Centre, 4747 Dunbar Street

AGENDA

Who Will Live Here
Client Selection Process
Client Operating Rules and Regulations

This is the first in a series of 4 meetings to receive input on the draft Operations Management Plan (OMP) for the Dunbar Apartments, a project that will provide housing and services for low-income people, disabled people and individuals with mental health issues who currently reside in the Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano areas, or whose origins were these communities.

This project will be operated by Coast Mental Health Society and residents will be referred by Vancouver Coastal Health, Yaffa Housing Society, St. George's Place Housing Society and BC Housing.

1. Who Will Live Here

Current DRAFT OMP (September 4, 2008)
The Dunbar Apartment is intended for low-income people, disabled people and individuals with mental health issues who currently reside in the Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano areas, or whose origins were these communities.

The residence will provide housing as follows:

30 units will serve tenants with Mental Illness referred through Vancouver Coastal Health. These residents will be people with mental illness who are able to live independent, productive lives with support.
5 units will be referred through Yaffa Housing Society, a Jewish Faith-based society, will provide referral and supportive cultural services to people as part of the collaborative housing arrangement.
4 units will be referred through St. George's Place Housing Society who will provide referral and consultative services to residents in the 4 wheelchair accessible units in the building.
BC Housing will refer low-income clientele from the BC Housing Access System waiting list for the remaining units.

Priority will be given to those living in Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano. Clients generally do not own cars and the location is ideal for its proximity to shopping, transit and other support services.

In the event that individuals who meet the above criteria cannot fill units, VCH and BC Housing will work with Coast to select individuals who will be best served by the accommodation in this environment.

Community Concerns / Questions (June 26, 2008)

duration of tenancy

2. Client Selection Process

Current DRAFT OMP (September 4, 2008)
30 Units will house referrals from Mental Health Housing Services, Vancouver Coastal Health. Potential residents will be assessed by professional staff at VCH for their appropriateness and ability to live in a supported apartment program. This process is one that Coast Mental Health is very familiar with and currently uses. Coast will have the final say in selection. All 30 tenants will be connected to mental health clinical supports and follow-up in the community.

The other 21 referrals will come from BC Housing with preference given to applicants of the Dunbar/Westside Community. Applicants will be placed on the list for Dunbar based on the criteria mandated for that building. Specifically people who have lived or have ties in that area that are currently unable to access affordable accommodations in their community. Yaffa and St. George's Place referrals will be processed through BC Housing's system.

Once a vacancy is determined and an individual has been waitlisted for the Dunbar building, a thorough screening and assessment will take place to ensure that the individual is suitable for the building. Coast as the operator of the building will have final say in who is selected for the building.

All clients will be required to sign a Residential Tenancy Agreement including the Addendum for Crime Free Housing prior to admission.

Community Concerns / Questions (June 26, 2008)

tenant selection criteria - possible changes; possible inclusion of seniors that meet other criteria; psychiatric "threshold"; geographic; other criteria

3. Client Operating Rules and Regulations

Current DRAFT OMP (September 4, 2008)
A Supported Housing Programs Service Agreement will be in place and apply to operators and residents.

Community Concerns / Questions (June 26, 2008)

acknowledgment of tenant/community rights (mutual) - re what is acceptable and what isn't
visitors / overnight guests
pet policy
tenant "possessions"/storage
drug use
smoking
loitering
shopping carts
monitoring tenant activities, residence rules
ability to evict a tenant

JULY 30 UPDATE

At the June 26, 2008 community meeting to discuss development of the Operations Management Plan (OMP) for the "Dunbar Apartments," a list of OMP related issues was generated. It was agreed to schedule a series of community meetings, beginning in the fall, to review the issues and gather additional feedback for the OMP. Each meeting would address particular sections of the OMP.

Please see Dunbar Street Apartments - Community Concerns Raised and Draft OMP Review Meeting Schedule prepared by the project facilitator, Raymond Penner, for details.

The first of these meetings is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 11, 2008, time and place to be announced. This meeting will address the OMP sections regarding Tenancy (who will live here), Client Selection Process and Client Operating Rules and Regulations.

JUNE 20 UPDATE

A message from the DRA and the Dunbar Vision Implementation Committee (DVIC):

The City of Vancouver has partnered with Coast Foundation Society (Coast Mental Health) to build and operate a supportive housing facility at 16th and Dunbar The residence is intended for those with low income, physical disabilities and mental health issues, with priority given to individuals from the Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano areas . Thirty of the units will be devoted to tenants with mental illness, five to those referred by the Yaffa Housing Society, which helps members of the Jewish faith in need, and four to those with physical disabilities through the St. George's Place Housing Society. The remaining tenants will come from the B.C. Housing Access System waiting list, which is for low income clients.

The City and Coast Mental Health have agreed that the running of the facility will be governed by an Operations Management Plan (OMP). They have further agreed that the occupancy permit will be conditional on having the OMP in place. The OMP will be developed through a process of community consultation among Coast Mental Health, the City and community volunteers. The plan will govern the resident population, staffing levels, ongoing community interaction, discipline and tenant responsibilities.

The first meeting to develop this plan is scheduled for next Thursday, June 26th. The time and place have yet to be determined. Coast is actively looking for community volunteers to help draft the plan. Representatives from the DRA, immediate neighbours, local schools and churches, community policing groups, volunteer organizations, businesses and charities are sought. If you could help, please consider volunteering. In addition to the drafting of the OMP, volunteers are also needed to become part of the ongoing community liaison committee for this facility.

If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to email DRA_Board@shaw.ca.

If you would be interested in joining the consultation group, please contact darrellb@coastmentalhealth.com directly.

Jane Ingman-Baker, Chair,Dunbar Vision Implementation Committee

Susan Chapman, Co-President,DRA

MAY 27 UPDATE

The City has prepared an Information Sheet on Dunbar & 16th Housing Project which provides additional information on the following:

Process
Details of the Development
Tenant Considerations
Management of Community Impacts
Contacts for the Project

This document was prepared in conjunction with BC Housing, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and the Coast Foundation Society, and was circulated at the May 27th Open House for the project held at Lord Byng.

MAY 23 UPDATE

The City is hosting an Open House for the public to meet the applicant team and learn more about the 16th & Dunbar Supportive Housing Development:

Date:    Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Time:    4:00 - 8:00 PM
Place:   Lord Byng High School, 3939 West 16th Avenue

A Development Application is being considered by the City for a 4-storey multiple dwelling, ground floor retail space and associated amenity areas over one level of parking at 3595 West 17th Avenue, previously 3212 Dunbar Street. Plans may be seen through enquiry at the Project Facilitator's office, 3rd floor, east wing of City Hall, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The application is scheduled on the agenda for the Development Board meeting of

Date:    Monday, July 14, 2008

Time:    3:00 PM

Place:   Committee Room No. 1, 3rd floor, City Hall

Permission to address the Board may be requested. Written comments from neighbours, by letter or email, on or before May 30th, may be considered as part of the review; written comments by interested parties will be accepted up to the date of the decision.

From the City's Housing Centre website re City owned site at 16th & Dunbar:

On April 22, 2008, a Development Application was made to construct a 4-storey multiple dwelling with ground floor retail space and associated amenity spaces over one level of parking. The non-profit society involved is Coast Mental Health Society.

A notification letter describing the proposal has been mailed to residents in the area.

APRIL 7 UPDATE

On April 7, 2008, the DRA sent a letter to the City Housing Centre, BC Housing and Coast Mental Health Society requesting that they engage the community in the planning for the supportive housing site at 16th & Dunbar by inviting community participation in the drafting of an Operations Management Plan for the facility.

FEB 1 UPDATE: NON-PROFITS SELECTED FOR 12 CITY-OWNED SITES

The Coast Foundation has been selected to develop and operate the 16th & Dunbar supportive housing site. For more information about the Coast Foundation, visit their website.

Decisions from Dec 12, 13 & 19 Special Council Meeting re:

City/Province Social & Supportive Housing Partnership - Memorandum of Understanding

(includes plans for 16th & Dunbar and 11 other City-owned sites)

You can review the minutes and watch video clips of the meeting on the
Agenda & Minutes page for this meeting.

The City of Vancouver purchased the property at the SE corner of Dunbar and 16th in May 2005 in "continuation of a long standing civic practice of supporting affordable housing options in the City. Dunbar is a community where there is no social housing available even though 6% of households are in core housing need."

Nov 2007: The provincial government has now given the green light to expedite development of 12 City-owned sites in Vancouver for social and supportive housing, 16th & Dunbar among them.

At the November 13, 2007 Vancouver City Council meeting, Council received a Report Reference on the City/BC Housing partnership to develop the 12 sites for 1100-1200 units of social and supportive housing.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and BC Housing, which is included in the Nov 6, 2007 staff report City/Province Social and Supportive Housing Partnership, has been referred to a Special Council meeting on the evening of December 12, 2007 so that Council can hear from the public on this proposal.

The 33 page report contains detailed, significant information on all aspects of the proposal including descriptions of the 12 sites and the proposed tenant profile for each site. This report should be carefully reviewed by anyone interested in the plans for 16th & Dunbar. for a copy of this report with the sections particularly relevant to Dunbar highlighted.

The MOU contains the following description for the 16th & Dunbar site:

3588-96 West 16th Ave./3212-28 Dunbar St. (SE Corner of 16th and Dunbar)
This site consists of two lots and has a total area of 13,146 sq. ft. (119.5 ft. x 110 ft.). It is zoned C-2 and the maximum floor area allowed for all uses is 32,865 sq. ft. of which a maximum of 28,264 sq. ft. can be developed for residential uses. Retail frontage will be required along Dunbar St. The site is currently occupied by a commercial building with 4 tenants. All tenancies are month-to-month.

It is proposed that this site be designed for 50+/- studio units with 4-5,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. A third to a half of the units would be occupied by persons with mental illness and referred and served by a mental health services provider. All units would be tenanted by core-need singles with a priority for those living in Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano.

Government links:
* Background of 16th and Dunbar
* Province and City of Vancouver Press Release
* BC Housing announcements
* City Report to Council including Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Newspaper articles:

*Vancouver Sun (Dec 21/07): Housing is 'real' 2010 legacy

*Vancouver Sun (Dec 15/07): A chilling trend spreads among our neighbours Not in Anybody's Backyard (NIABY) movement branches out to wherever cities want to put addiction treatment centres

* Vancouver Courier (Nov 16/06): City housing plan outlined

* Vancouver Sun (Nov 11/07): Social housing sites put on fast-track

Dunbar Issues

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:30:00 -0800

These are the issues that affect Dunbar in large and small ways. These items will be general descriptions plus lists of reference materials.

If you wish to discuss an item, subscribe and use the Dunbar Neighbours Mailing List. Get current with these discussions by visiting the Neighbour's Mailing List Archive.

Civic Election UPDATED NOV 16

Zoning and Development

EcoDensity UPDATED JUN 12
41st and Balaclava development UPDATED FEB22
16th and Dunbar development UPDATED NOV 10
Orphan Lots
Board of Variance - Third Party Appeal UPDATED APR 1

Transportation and Traffic (visit City of Vancouver Transportation website for the latest information)

Vancouver School Board

Proposed closure of Queen Elizabeth Annex and related issues UPDATED JUN 11

Vandalism

Pacific Spirit Park/University Golf Course

IN MEMORIAM : Wilf Schofield

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 13:35:02 -0800

Dunbar mourns the loss of Dr. Wilf Schofield, who died on November 5^th after a short battle with cancer. Wilf was a world-renowned moss expert, beloved of generations of students at UBC.

Here in Dunbar he will be remembered for his animated walks every year during Salmonberry Days telling us more than we ever thought there was to know about mosses and liverworts.

Wilf was the husband of Peggy Schofield, among whose many contributions to our neighbourhood's lore was the history she edited, The Story of Dunbar: Voices of a Vancouver Neighbourhood. We lost Peggy in January, 2005.

Both Wilf and Peggy are pictured here.

DRA Committees

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:46:00 -0700

Committees

Dunbar Community Patrol: Linda MacAdam
History Project: Helen Spiegelman and Pam Chambers
Salmonberry Days: Sonia Wicken and Helen Spiegelman
Seniors Housing Committee: Tina Crouse
Tree Committee: Catherine Evans