July 29, 2014

Mayoral candidate, Glen Chernen anounces: For Immediate Release

Aquatic Centre / Granville Bridge demolition & sale plans discovered

I discovered an official City of Vancouver sale package, for the sale and demolition of the
Granville Street Bridge off-ramp, for the North side exit to Pacific Avenue, last week. The offering
clearly describes a plan to demolish the Vancouver Aquatic Centre and rebuild it at the base of
a new high rise to be located on the present site of the Granville Bridge off-ramp. The bidders must
submit their final bid in 17 days ( August 15th ) with their initial deposit on this $32,900,000
assessed property. If this deal goes through, then what is Mayor Robertsons plan for the current
waterfront Aquatic Centre which has been located 6 blocks away for decades. I would imagine that
he knows plenty of developers that would be interested in purchasing such a well located property
to build a high rise tower. If the Mayor Robertson wants the Aquatic Centre moved then I want to
know what the other half of his plan is?

The City of Vancouver indicates they will allow rezoning for high rise towers under conditions which
include giving financial consideration for the development cost charges and community amenity fees
to be owed by the successful bidder / developer.

The City suggests a way for the developer to avoid paying cash fees to the city by building
a new Aquatic Centre on the Off-Ramp site and other public works projects, in lieu of cash.

The request for the developer to build/provide an Aquatic Centre & community space rather than
make a cash payment for rezoning fees based on value increase, illustrates the city hall practice of
giving developers a way to avoid paying cash to the City. It makes accountability hard to enforce.

This strategy results in what looks like a disguised multi-million dollar public works contract
embedded in the form of constructing a new aquatic centre, which the City of Vancouver
suggests be built on the site rather than cash payment.

This arrangement also prevents the City of Vancouver from holding a competitive public works bid
process for renovation at the existing waterfront site 6 blocks away.

A bidder would likely require hundreds of millions of dollars to be ready in the next 17 days to
undertake such a plan.

There has been no public notification or discussion with the people of Vancouver to determine if we
desire having the bridge off-ramp demolished, let alone pay higher fees and taxes to fund a brand
new Aquatic Centre. The Off-Ramp is located across the street from a mostly city owned block that
is being sold to Westbank Projects developers in an exclusive, non bid process.

Also included in this sales package is the fact that any building constructed on this site would have
to connect to the neighbourhood heating system.

Large scale heating systems in Vancouver primarily run through a distribution system owned by Ian
Gillespie, the owner of Westbank Projects, who is a major financial contributor to the Mayor of
Vancouver.

Quebec has had large scale corruption investigations into government contracts being rigged. We
dont seem to have that problem. It appears there is no bid process here at all other than the next
July 29, 2014
Mayoral candidate, Glen Chernen anounces: For Immediate Release
Aquatic Centre / Granville Bridge demolition & sale plans discovered
17 days remaining in the very quiet offering of the government owned bridge off-ramp. This conduct
is considered normal for those involved with City Hall. It seems abnormal for people on the outside.

Lack of competition and accountability result in lower outcomes to all of our residents.

This conduct is common practice in Vancouver. It is an anti-competitive and secretive process
which can benefit those with close connections to city hall.

This sale offer is similar to other recent questionable deals in which:
There was no public discussion,
there were secret votes
details are sealed for long periods of time.

Unless the citizens and/or another level of government force the real estate department and city
administration to act more transparently, they wont.

Detailed information is not currently available online.
Public discussion & debate needs to take place on this topic

This secret deal as proposed, costs us dearly while a competitive renovation bid for the Aquatic
Centre is avoided.

Sale packages are available ONLY at 5th Floor Reception, 507 West Broadway (the Crossroads Building)
from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. Bids must be in by August 15, 2014. Alternatively, you can
also view a copy at the Cedar Party fundraising office across from the Hollywood theatre at 3128
West Broadway.

Secret plans like this are the justification behind the Cedar Party wanting increased fraud and
white collar crime enforcement at City Hall and in the City of Vancouver in general. The Cedar
Party would like to see a dedicated law enforcement department that specifically focuses on City
Hall. We believe that increased fraud enforcement would increase revenue to the City of
Vancouver and cover the enforcement costs by 10 - 20 times. More details are available in the following
web link.
http://cedarparty.ca/platform/anti-corruption-office/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below
are several photo links of plans to demolish & relocate bridge infrastructure and the Aquatic Centre.
https://twitter.com/glenchernen/status/492873614408957952/photo/1
https://twitter.com/glenchernen/status/492851691687919617/photo/1
CONTACT
Please contact Nicholas or Glen Chernen with any constructive criticism, questions, or requests for
interviews. Glen has been working the past two years to expose the secretive ways of Mayor Robertson and
his party, to find better solutions for Vancouver, and will be running for Vancouver Mayor in the next
election with the Cedar Party against Vision and NPA along with their developer financed campaigns.
Please make a comment on Cedarparty.ca, Facebook or by sending an email to info@cedarparty.ca OR
CONTACT: David - 604 440 6593 at Cedar or follow & contact Glen or Nicholas Chernen / Cedar via Twitter