A gondola system running overhead in James Bay?
No thanks, say some residents.
“It does not fit in with the dynamic of the neighbourhood at all,” said Ray Martinson, who lives at the northwest end of Montreal Street, one of the suggested routes of the proposed system. “I think most James Bay residents would concur.”
Although there is merit in trying to find an alternative to using shuttle buses to transport thousands of cruise ship passengers between Ogden Point in James Bay and downtown, the gondola proposal from Victoria Sky Ride Gondola is not the answer, Martinson said.
Joyce Martinson agreed, saying, “It would change the landscape.”
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is seeking proposals that would carry ship passengers during the May through September season. James Bay residents have complained for years about streets clogged with buses and other traffic, as well as noise and emissions.
Victoria Sky Ride representatives say they are willing to spend $10 million to build a gondola system to quietly carry passengers to and from the city centre, cutting back on the number of shuttle buses.
The company has suggested two possible routes, each starting at the south side of Ogden Point. One would run directly up Montreal Street to a terminal near the Inn at Laurel Point. The other would go along Dallas Road and then up Oswego Street to the Victoria Clipper terminal site on Belleville Street.
In each case, steel towers nearly 22 metres tall would be installed on city streets to support cables carrying the cars. Each eight-person car would travel at 18 kilometres per hour and the service would be able to carry 2,800 people per hour in each direction, said Geoff Pearce, Sky Ride president.
Sky Ride would provide revenue to the city through taxes and lease fees, and to the province as well, Pearce said.
Dallas Road resident Chris Lougheed doesn’t like the concept, saying it would be a waste of money.
Brian Simmons, also of James Bay, said the structure “will present an esthetic eyesore. Simply hideous to erect this over a quiet residential area. Never mind the debris or clutter, and when it is no longer viable — who pays to bring it down?”
Victoria Coun. Pamela Madoff, a long-time James Bay resident and heritage advocate, said James Bay is an old community and Montreal Street is a narrow street with character homes.
“I just wonder if they [Sky Ride] have ever put a gondola through a 19th-century neighbourhood before? I also wonder if they are aware of how tight the physical infrastructure is in James Bay, where we struggle to accommodate pedestrians and telephone poles?’
After looking at Sky Ride’s illustration, Madoff asked: “How would people feel living on a third floor of a building having people going right past at that level?”
Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin favours people using shoe leather. “My answer has always been the development of the David Foster Way. That’s how I want to get people from the cruise ships into our downtown.”
David Foster Way is a waterfront path running along Victoria’s harbour. When finished it will be about five kilometres, from Ogden Point to Rock Bay.
Fortin expects residents will balk at the Sky Ride plan. “I’ve seen pictures. I suspect it is going to be visually challenging for the community.”
Sky Ride is holding an open house Wednesday at 205 Simcoe St. from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will make a presentation at 6:30 p.m. at the James Bay Neighbourhood Association’s meeting at 234 Menzies St.
