The City of White Rock would like to take this opportunity to correct information published in the July 13, 2018, Peace Arch News Article, “No arts, sports for White Rock parkade.”
PAN: Contrary to previous suggestions from city staff, residents shouldn’t expect to see any art shows, farmers’ markets or sporting activities at White Rock’s four-storey waterfront parkade, under construction at Vidal Street and Victoria Avenue.
This is not true. At the July 9, 2018 public hearing, Carl Johannsen, Director of Planning Services, was providing context in response to a question from a White Rock resident and the point he was making is that the Waterfront Parkade is being constructed first and foremost to provide more parking to support our waterfront businesses.
Mr. Johannsen did not actually say, ‘no arts, sports’ for the parkade. The potential events and programming within the parkade could include the following as outlined in the July 24, 2017, Corporate Report (p.169 and p.182) presented to Council at the Land Use and Planning Committee Meeting:
- The parkade would provide covered parking space for retail vendors to display their products and would easily accommodate 100 or more vendors.
- The parkade could be used to host Art shows, art demonstrations and art sales and marketing from the elements.
- The space could be used for ‘Show and Shine’ car shows.
- The parkade would provide an opportunity to display or install public artwork. The artwork can be located inside the building or on the outside façade.
- Sporting activities such as archery, ball hockey, table tennis, in-line skating, skateboarding, scooter riding and cycling could take place at the parkade.
The PAN article also makes it seem that Mr. Johannsen’s comment, ‘the parkade is for parking’ eliminates all the potential arts/sports items listed in the July 24, 2017 report. This is not the case and only City Council is able to make such a decision. Furthermore, as per the Public Art Master Plan, there will be public art at or near the parkade.