SUPPORTS ITEM NO.
P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
Display Site for Interurban Car 1207
NOVEMBER 7, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: October 17, 1996
Dept. File No.4102-1
TO: Standing Committee on Planning & Environment
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Display Site for Interurban Car 1207
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve the display site and building for Interurban
Car 1207 to be located on the former CP Rail False Creek corridor
east of Moberly Road as shown on Figure 1.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council has established transportation priorities which emphasize
encouraging transit.
Council supports preserving and promoting street car heritage.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for a display
site and building for Interurban Car 1207.
BACKGROUND
On July 30, 1996, Council considered a report to locate Interurban Car
1207 at Second Avenue west of Anderson Street. Traffic congestion,
parking and view concerns were raised by merchants and residents.
Council requested staff to review other locations, including the east
side of Anderson Street, with a report back. This report summarizes the
locations reviewed and recommends a site.
On September 5, 1996, an open house was held to seek neighbourhood input
to options on the east side of Anderson Street at Lamey s Mill Road.
Four layouts were considered and reviewed at the open house. While
there was support for the Street Car, concerns were raised regarding
parking and congestion. With the close proximity to Granville Island,
the current parking is in high demand and there was opposition to
anything which would add to this even incrementally.
To address these concerns, an alternate site with improved parking and
access was considered.
DISCUSSION
It is proposed to temporarily display the Interurban Car on the existing
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rail alignment near Sixth Avenue at Moberly. The street car lease is
for 5 years, six months; therefore the site and buildings would be
temporary. When the overall system becomes operational or the lease
expires, the building could be relocated.
Display Site
The proposed site is on the existing rail alignment corridor east of
Moberly Road (see Figure 1). South of the site is Sixth Avenue, east
and west of the site is the rail corridor, and north of the site is the
BC Transit bus loop and a City owned public parking lot.
To protect the car from vandalism and the weather, a street car storage
building is required. The building is 6m x 18m x 5.5m high (20ft x 60ft
x 18ft high). Two layout options were considered: one with the building
located on the track at the end of the street car (Fig.1) and one with
the building located approximately 50 metres further to the east (Figure
2).
Neighbourhood Comments
On October 15, 1996, an open house was held with the neighbourhood to
hear comments on the Moberly display site. Notices (1400) were
delivered to residents and businesses north of Moberly Road from the
Cambie Bridge to Charleson Park and the open house was advertised in the
Creek Newspaper.
The open house was attended by 21 people. Together with letters and
phone calls, 23 comment sheets were received with 20 supportive of this
site. Of the 20 supporting this site, 14 indicated no preference between
the two options, 2 preferred the building located close to the car, and
4 preferred the building located to the east.
One of the objections arose from the False Creek Community Association.
In discussion with the chairman, there were some concerns with the
proposal although their review was cursory and based on little
information. It was suggested that staff should try to discuss the
proposal with Association representatives from the area. Staff will be
undertaking further discussions and Council will be advised on the
results at the Committee meeting.
It is recommended that the street car and building be located as shown
in Figure 1. This has the advantage of being closer to the transit loop
and walkway access when the car is not on outdoor display. During
inclement weather or when no volunteers are on site, the car can still
be viewed in the building. Residents also commented that locating the
building closer to the car may help buffer traffic noise from Sixth
Avenue.
Other sites reviewed include Science World, Vanier Park and Granville
Island. These all have good visibility to the public; however, there is
no existing track in place that could be used for demonstration runs of
the car. Granville Island does have limited track in place, but this is
in poor condition and currently used for on-street parking. The Moberly
site is on the existing tracks and will allow the car to operate on
demonstration runs.
Display Building
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Several quotes were provided from different suppliers for a street car
building. It is proposed to house the Interurban Car in a prefabricated
metal building supplied by Macloc Buildings Inc. at an approximate cost
of $25,000. This will protect the car from the weather and from
possible vandalism. Foundations, electrical power and lighting services
will add another $10,000 to the building cost. Funding for this work is
previously approved and will also be from private sponsors.
Although the 6m x 18m building will be fairly basic, it will be made
attractive through the use of prepainted metal siding in a light blue
colour, with a shallow gable roof. Two personnel doors and the car door
will be accentuated in grey. The building is large enough for convenient
viewing by the public, and will also allow further restoration and
maintenance work. It will be possible to move the car out of the
building for general exhibition on sunny days.
Metal building construction can be classified as permanent; however,
this type of bolted building assembly will readily permit future
dismantling and reinstallation for use by Engineering Services elsewhere
if needed.
CONCLUSION
A building and street car at the entrance to Granville Island will
provide high visibility to the public; however, the neighbourhood has
expressed concern about this location. An alternative site at Sixth
Avenue and Moberly is recommended. This will still provide visibility
and has good access to parking. This location will provide an excellent
opportunity for the City to display some of its heritage.
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