B.C. Views The real smart meter manipulation. p6
Cellphone tower rattling residents. p8
THE NEws
Arts&life Ridge dancers win at worlds. p21
www.mapleridgenews.com wednesday, november 7, 2012 · serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢
the news/files
Ghalib Rawji’s hasn’t applied for a development permit
Former ghetto property to stay empty More than a year since owner talked to district
Colleen Flanagan/the news
Reno project
by Phil M elnyc h u k staff reporter
The empty lot that used to house notorious Northumberland Court will stay empty for while, after the owner apparently lost interest in the lot. A report to Maple Ridge council Monday says owner Ghalib Rawji hasn’t responded to e-mails or phone calls and it’s been more than a year since he talked with staff. So staff are suggesting that the rezoning application for 29 townhomes and 24 condos, be shelved. Rawji’s rezoning application for the property on Fraser Street, a block south of Lougheed Highway, got first reading more than two years ago on condition that he apply for development permit. But that hasn’t happened, so staff say the application should be closed. Another application for rezoning or development could be filed later, but the process would have to start from scratch. Port Haney resident Tyler Ducharme isn’t surprised. see Northumberland, p14
Judy Dobrowolski, community engagement and capital projects communications for B.C. Hydro, looks down at the pounding water from the spill of the Ruskin Dam on Tuesday as renovations continued. see story, p3.
Caring Place is staying put Businesses, district looking for downtown fix by P h i l M e l nychuk staff reporter
If you want to fix the downtown, everybody’s got to do their bit, but the Caring Place isn’t moving elsewhere. While complaints and letters keep piling in about the state of the downtown, people who pull the strings are trying to do something about it. About 35 business people, the
chamber of commerce and the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association showed up and agreed that every business, social service agency or property owner has to do his or her part. “It was really clear that it takes all sectors to make it a vibrant place,” said Kelly Swift, parks and recreation services general manager. She organized the meeting after council requested a report on the state of the downtown after complaints about crime and drugs growing in the area. But when it comes to the social agencies, such as the Salvation Army’s The Caring Place on
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Opinion Letters Looking Back Arts&life Community Calendar sports Classifieds
6 7 16 15 20 26 31
222nd Street, they’re not going anywhere. “The reality is some of our key social service agencies are in fairly high-profile locations in the downtown. And that’s a reality that we’re dealing with,” Swift said. “There’s recognition that there’s an impact as result of that, on the image of downtown.” The group acknowledged that such agencies are an important part of the downtown and that they aren’t like to relocate. That’s not realistic, said Swift. “There was recognition that they were doing good work, that the service is needed.”
It was also agreed that some parts of central Maple Ridge can be improved, with better lighting and pedestrian access. Some buildings can be improved in order to reduce crime, while every landlord should participate in a multi-family, anti-crime program. Some artists may be able to temporarily use vacant buildings as studios, to fill what are gaping holes in the streetscape. Ineke Boekhorst, executive-director with the BIA, said it was a positive meeting with pragmatic ideas.
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see Downtown, p10