In the News
 The
Soul Of Our City
If Uptown is the heart of our city, then Downtown is our city’s soul.
Many of us can recall Columbia Street in its heyday, and we all recognize that reviving
Columbia Street has been a top priority with every mayor and city council since
the mid-1960s.
And now the long-awaited rebirth of Columbia Street
is finally going to happen,
Stay tuned...
Crime Rate Hits A 10-year Low
Michael McQuillan, Newsleader Oct. 11/08
Despite the common perception among some people that things are getting worse, crime
rates are actually down in New Westminster, according to the latest regional crime
statistics for 2007. Released this week by the provincial Ministry of Public Safety
and Solicitor General for the police services division, the report shows the rate
of criminal code offences in the city declined
from the previous year. In fact,
it’s been on a downward trend since 2004.
The reporter interviewed deputy chief
Dave Jones who pointed out that the NWPS regularly runs uniformed and undercover
operations around the Sky Train stations – targeting the drug trade. Each operation
results in multiple arrests. He also pointed out that by targeting individuals,
specific neighbourhoods and establishments that are hotspots for crime is more efficient
than spreading the police too thin.
Read the full article
Most
Popular Mayor
In the New Westminster Newsleader's A-List published Sept. 25th Wayne Wright was
voted the most popular mayor.
The question asked readers in the survey (held both
on-line and in-paper over the months of July and August) was "Who is your favourite
mayor of all time?". Respondents voted Mayor Wayne Wright number 1, Helen Sparkes number 2, and Muni Evers number 3.
If You Build It, They Will Come
Columbia Street is on its way to reliving its glory days.
Robert Fung, president of the Salient Group, is working on plans to restore the
facades of the historic Trapp Block and The Windjammer Hotel and to build a new
tower behind these buildings. He believes in the “If you build it, they will come,”
adage
“It’s a great street,” he said, “It has always been a great street. It’s like every
great street that was the original city centre…”New Westminster has the greatest
historical downtown in the Lower Mainland and… we are creating an energy that will
influence investment. I see potential for others.
“It’s (The Trapp Block) probably one of the most fantastic facades… a very stately
facades.
“The goal is to bring the time clock on these buildings back to zero.” Fung said,
“We want them to last another 100 years.”
The Record Apr 26, 2008 by Theresa McManus
A Vision for Downtown
…an estimated 2,500 people will move into the Downtown over the next 2 or 3 years.
…There’s no large grocery store, no recreation facilities, not enough businesses
and few amenities to catch what will likely be a much younger, family-oriented population.
Brian Dodd, executive director of the BIA says, “There’s an air of confidence among
BIA merchants when they look forward. The neighbourhood is changing and that change
is viewed as positive.
“What we need down here is to keep these people at home, to keep these people (shopping)
in this community.”
Newsleader March 6, 2008 By Michael McQuillan
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