Condo owners push for Vancouver tow yard move
 

Condo owners near the Vancouver’s impound compound want to give Busters the boot.

For years the city has been discussing moving its bylaw impound yard from under the Granville Street Bridge, where it once was in an industrial area but is now ringed by residential highrises.

“It’s going to happen with the emergence of the residential area around the lot,” admits Busters Towing spokesman Vern Campbell.

“The city owns the lot. It really boils down to being in the hands of the Vancouver Engineering Department.”

The condo buyers were assured the lot was on the move, and checked the city archives to find out the lot’s fate.

“It operates 24/7, and there are car alarms going off all night long,” said Jennifer Myers, whose condo overlooks the parking lot under the north end of the bridge.

“We did our due diligence, we made sure that it wasn’t just a developer’s promise. We all did our homework.”

Their homework showed them the city has been discussing a move to the False Creek flats near Terminal Avenue since 1997, and even voted on a move in 2006.

“They told us it was going to be gone,” said Bob Chapman. “It affects everyone in the corridor.

“If a tow truck comes in with a car-alarm going, it sets off other alarms — it’s like a chain reaction.” While the location is inconvenient for neighbours, it’s convenient for the city and for Busters.

Each morning and afternoon rush hour, Busters clears illegally parked cars ignoring the no-parking signs on nearby crucial commuter arteries such as Howe, Hornby, Seymour and Richards.

“It’s convenient for us, and it’s also convenient for the people that pick up the cars,” said Campbell.

“Industrial Avenue [the proposed False Creek Flats site] is farther away.”

The neighbours are tired of waiting, and have a petition signed by 250 neighbours.

“Everyone knew it was going to take time, but we just didn’t expect it to take them forever,” said Louise Labuda.

The residents’ sense of urgency is increasing — the group feels that the 2010 Olympics, with its complicated parking restrictions, should be renamed “Towfest.”
© Copyright (c) The Province

oh boo hoo. people are messed up when it comes to noise

i remember a few years ago they wanted firetrucks/ambulances to drive with their sirens off after a certain time.

Downtown condo owners who whine about noise can lick my ass, they're part of the reason the fireworks are gone (or were so difficult to run), they ruin outdoor concerts, they ruined the Molson Indy and I'm sure there are others I am forgetting.

If you want country silence move to the fucking country bitches.

I believe that was Sam Sullivan who wanted to create a bylaw for it.

But then they'll complain about having to listen to the coyotes howl and owls hoot. :lol

LOL

My friend lives near there. What did she do? Bought an appartment on the opposite side of the building. Why? Because she isn't stupid.

It's like those idiots in Terra Nova and Marine Dr. who bought houses then complained about the airplane noise....didn't you notice there's a damn airport right across from your house? Notice that it was there BEFORE you were?

ASSured.... by who? The real estate agent that makes a tidy commission for selling the suite?

Lot was there before those new condos were built so those condo owners should just think before they buy next time. It's like YVR how people who live around there is complaining about airplane noise. the airport was there first, if they decide to buy a house near the airport then they should live with the noise. Same thing with molson indy etc. etc. etc. damn people these days.

complainers are bitches, deal with it or move the fuck out

I hope they move the tow yard and then build a giant tower in its place so that all of these idiots lose their view and wish the tow yard was back.

They were doing the same thing in New West. All the fancy condos on the quay happen to be next to a rail switching yard. I can hear it in my apartment on 8th, so I can imagine that its quite loud down there. Funny story though...its been there far longer than the condos.

The neighborhood association starts writing letters to the paper to the effect of having the rail companies completely change their operations as if its not connected to every other rail operation and eventually move to someone elses neighborhood. My favorite part was they were angry that CN wouldn't even talk to them. I don't blame CN. These people have no brains.

Its under a bridge....

I always thought that was standard practice though. whenever i used to see emergency vehicles in my neighbourhood, they always had the lightson but no sirens at night.

what would be the point of an emergency vehicle that has no sirens? Any car can drive around with flashy lights.

If an emergency vehicle with no sirens on gets into an accident because someone didn't hear them, would these stratas be held liable then? :D

That's usually if the cops don't want to tip off the guy they are coming for. If there is a fire/ambulance emergency at 2am you can bet they aren't going to risk getting T-Boned because they would be waking a few people up.