FROM PARKING TO PARKLET
Residents Fear For Safety

by Liz Robson & Aviva Lacterman
(click images to enlarge)

A petition is underway to stop the permanent road closure of the 1600 block of Comox as proposed by the City of Vancouver and the Lord Roberts Elementary Parent Advisory Council (PAC). Residents’ safety resulting from the street closure is the primary concern. Coming together as a community, with other solutions for the issues related to the street closure is our goal.

First, closure means residents would lose front-door access by many services to our homes, such as taxis, deliveries, home medical care, and Meals on Wheels. The proposal for residents’ use of the rear Henshaw Lane is troubling. Besides Henshaw Lane’s intercom systems not being accessible from the rear of our Comox Street buildings, the uneven pavement makes disability access severely compromised. Seniors would be particularly vulnerable. Seasonal rainy, icy conditions would make it unbearable for residents of all ages. The back alley’s inadequate lighting makes it a seedy site of choice for thieves and individuals using it as a drug haven at night. We’ve all witnessed it or have found evidence in daylight.

Secondly, closing the 1600 block of Comox and converting it to the proposed “community street” with two liquor stores less than a hundred meters walk will attract an assortment of day and night visitors to the front of our buildings, which could result in unsavoury activities, increased vandalism and potential encampments, thereby further endangering residents and students.

Earlier this month, Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Comox St. residents and Lord Roberts parents, had the scary experience of a mentally unstable man trying to climb into their ground floor patio to break into the home, while resisting their defense in broad daylight. This same family had their truck stolen in April and were also victims of theft from their storage.

Before any closure happens, we want to see a traffic volume study of Comox Street and how a closure would affect surrounding streets. The study also needs to show any history of injury by a vehicle in the 1600 block. Proponents of the closure need to prove the need, not simply want it.

The back alley north of the 1600 block Comox on an icey, congested winter’s day.

Residents are taken aback that they’ve not been consulted about this proposed closure. For several years, the Lord Robert’s PAC has been promoting this street closure as they met with City Engineers and the School Active Travel team. The PAC chairperson, Lucy Maloney, admitted in a tweet that she had been working on this for four years.

The underlying reason for this proposed street closure is children’s safety while crossing the street - that’s a fair concern. We witness numerous students safely walking and running across the very open Comox/Bidwell Streets to buy goodies at Dollarama, with no issues. So why close a street and encourage kids to play on the road when they have a large, safe, equipped schoolyard as a playground? In a city where it rains much of the year, how does this make sense? Will cyclists coming down the hill and gaining speed be able to avoid children running amok or the senior manoeuvring around the kids? Are people going to sit under the hot sun on pavement with a beach minutes away? Will people have lunch in the rain on the street seating? What is the cost of the suggested community street amenities and its maintenance with washrooms and garbage collection?

We, the residents, were not informed or invited to these meetings to have questions answered or concerns addressed. The 1600-block Comox residents and those living within a two-block radius were first informed about the proposed closure late March, 2023 through a City survey.

The survey’s wording deterred the reader from objecting to the closure, asking only for suggestions on how we’d like to use this community street, with options like ping pong tables and hammocks. Yes, hammocks! That screams to residents that visitors will check-in for the night!

When asked who would be responsible for cleaning up the mess on the new closed street, the City replied that it’s “up to the public”.

When asked about our concerns regarding the clean-up of resulting debris and drug paraphernalia in the area the City’s response was as follows: “It is the City that offers these spaces. It is up to the public not to abuse them.”

The two separate seating areas on the residential side of Comox that have been littered with food garbage, cigarettes and empty alcohol and drink containers have been cleaned by the 1600 Comox residents for almost a decade.

We are at a loss to understand why the Comox Street closure is being proposed. Its premise is the safety of children crossing one street, while children crossing Pendrell are in even greater danger. The cost to taxpayers to implement a community street, including the loss of parking revenues for 18 permit parking and five pay visitor parking for this unnecessary street closure, is ill-advised when simpler solutions for children’s safety have not been explored. Saving taxpayers’ money and an assurance of children’s safe street crossing could be addressed using BCAA’s street patrol system.

In the proposed Community Street, redundant items such as sitting and gardening areas that are already provided on the streets surrounding the school are added costs. The spacious schoolyard, complete with picnic tables, and community gardens, is under-utilized during and after school hours. In our observation, the playground is empty after school most of the year due to rain. The temporary street closure currently results in increased traffic congestion and emissions in the area, both by parents finding a way to drop off or pick up their children and others looking for a place to park — those problems will be worse with a permanent street closure.

The West End already has an exceptional number of public recreational facilities close by, such as public beaches and Stanley Park.

It’s easy to see that Pendrell and Bidwell Streets are now much more dangerous than Comox ever was. Our neighbour, Ms.McNamara on Pendrell sees numerous children cross mid-block without due care and attention to reach waiting cars. Since the temporary closure, pedestrian crossing is scary at Bidwell and Pendrell, with excessive vehicles going in all directions creating blind spots. Residents of 1600 Pendrell spoke to the firefighters at the station nearby. They indicated that the part time closure made their job more difficult but they couldn’t say much as they are discouraged from commenting publicly about anything political.

Closure translates into delayed emergency response time when the streets are congested. A potential solution is to create a drive thru drop off /pickup area through the existing school parkade.

This proposed street closure raises concerns for residents around their own mental health and anxiety, since it diminishes our sense of safety and well-being not only on our street but also in our own homes. The solution can be very simple. Residents are volunteering to help and to collaborate with all parties to create solutions that would ensure both the children’s safety crossing the street as well as safeguard the well-being of its residents.

We ask that you, our extended Vancouver resident neighbours, understand our distress and safety concerns, especially given the increased incidence of addiction and violence in our city. In our opinion, closure of this block invites disorderly people to the front door of our homes and potentially encourages an encampment. Something so routine as taking a senior dog out to pee at night or coming home from a late-night shift could become the occasion of a hostile encounter. A closed street in front of a large, empty, dark school yard or the dark back-alley leaves residents in a very vulnerable position.

Your care and support is needed right now. Lend us your voice to save our street! The safety of our children and our neighbours is the most important message. If you agree, I would encourage you to sign the petition here or call 311 to voice your concerns.

We look forward to working closely with Lord Roberts Elementary school and the PAC in a continuing effort to foster a community relationship.

Sincerest gratitude on behalf of the 1600 Comox block residents fighting to save our street.

RELATED LINKS:

BCAA’S Street Patrol System.
Last month The West End Journal ran a “West End Voices” article by Lord Roberts Elementary School PAC chair Lucy Maloney outline the arguments in favour of the plan to close the 1600 block Comox. You will find that editorial here.