Dear Editor,
With all the respect we have for Gordon Ganong, we strongly disagree with his view, as stated in last week’s Undercurrent, of the Metro Vancouver Board’s decision regarding the Davies Orchard cottages.
How could we rely as he does on the monetary figures provided, realizing that they have nothing to do with reality? For example, $2.1 millions to tear down four cottages, that any contractor on the island could do for $10,000 or less, and $300,000 to restore six cottages, four of which have been fully restored and two stabilized What is going on?
Will $35,000 for annual upkeep to the cottages add one more employee to the team maintaining Crippen Park? That is not clear either.
But what is missing in the overall analysis of this controversy, is the lack of concern, at all levels of Metro Vancouver decision makers, for the desire expressed by the community, for the heritage value of the Davies Orchard and Cottages, and the manipulation of all discussion with the enforcement of two options of their own and none of the ones proposed by the people of Bowen Island.
It was extremely disappointing to have no commitment on that matter from our municipal council and particularly from our representative at Metro Vancouver despite the strong petition of the community members (550 and more).
How could we be celebrating the annihilation of some of our cultural heritage while the bureaucratic governance with the branding of working for a livable environment destroys living amenities for the sake of creating more green space.
Sincerely,
André H. Chollat and Anne Franc De Ferriere-Chollat
