The Editor:
Re: Colossal 80-storey, 73-storey towers approved in Burnaby with 1,400+ condos (Sept. 23, 2024)
Skyscraper apartment/condos are not the answer to transit oriented population densification in Burnaby.
Demographic population changes are fast coming to Canada, British Columbia and Burnaby in that the North American Baby Boomers and all those that preceded them are going to be gone within about 30 years. World population trends are not looking good for the western hemisphere either as Asia and Africa will have larger populations with a majority of the world's largest cities and North and South America will struggle with population stagnation.
These tower condo/apartments are also not affordable to normal working people especially those under the age of 40. They are also not affordable as rental units. Squeezing more than one person into a 500 sq. ft. or less box will only lead to a myriad of health and wellness issues exacerbated by claustrophobic anxiety.
These towers only serve to isolate and alienate people from one another as they do not provide any semblance of a natural or human environment. Sunlight access is also impeded by their shadow profiles. Traffic and parking issues only serve to exacerbate the congestion and pollution surrounding these towers adjacent to rapid transit.
Also, the concept of a Central Business District (CBD) in a city is an outmoded bygone idea. Continuing to pursue this outmoded idea by overbuilding transportation traffic infrastructure to serve it is redundant and only perpetuates a waste of resources.
Business can now operate efficiently and effectively from anywhere with little or no need to cram workers into a CBD.
We have communication technologies that allow workers and business to operate from anywhere at any time they choose. If it were feasible to get to Mars you could run your business from there. Persisting with this CBD concentrative mode of business operation is just plain shortsighted, uneconomic and wasteful.
Stop issuing building permits for these exceedingly tall towers that are designed to concentrate workers close to rapid transit that takes them to a redundant CBD and find more humane ways to house people that will not lead to alienation, isolation and mental health issues.
It is high time for Mayor and Council to begin to think outside of the box and come up with a better plan to house people in environments that are more humane, natural and affordable.
Really, why would anyone voluntarily choose to live in one of these skyscraper towers in a tiny concrete cage?
Even chickens get better treatment where battery cages are outlawed.
- Darcy Olson, Metro Vancouver
