Country Lane: 700-block E. 27th/E. 28th Avenues

In October 2002, residents of the 700-block of East 27th and 28th Avenues helped build Vancouver’s first country lane. The country lane is an environmentally-friendly alternative to the standard asphalt lane paving treatment. The new surface treatment of two concrete strips bordered by permeable pavers reduces environmental impacts and discharge to the City’s storm sewer system. Properties in the 700-block of East 27th and 28th Avenues were chosen to participate in the Country Lanes Project because of strong community interest and support by area residents to maintain and promote the country lane. For more information, please click here.

Dickens Community Group

The Dickens Community Group (DCG) improves the quality of life in Kensington-Cedar Cottage by creating safer and more liveable neighbourhoods. On safety issues, the group collaborates with the Vancouver Police Department and the South Vancouver Community Policing Centre in conducting police-sponsored street patrols. Members of the DCG also organize graffiti clean-ups, gardening projects, business support and work with neighbours to build a strong, healthy community. For more information contact the South Vancouver Community Policing Centre at 604-717-2940.

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Mountain View Neighbourhood Group

Residents from the Fraser & King Edward area formed the Mountain View Group in the winter of 2000 to address street crime issues in their neighbourhood. Since that time the group has expanded their interest and activities to include designing and installing street banners along Fraser Street; building and installing bulletin boards at locations throughout KCC; sponsoring the country lanes project and more recently working with City engineers on transit priority measures along Fraser Street . In September 2001, CBC Radio Canada chose Mountain View from 16 neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland as the winner of “What Makes Neighbourhoods Great” contest. The CBC radio morning show celebrated the work and enthusiasm of Mountain View with a live broadcast and pancake breakfast/street party.

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Windsor Way Blooming Boulevards Demonstration Project

The Windsor Way Blooming Boulevard Project, initiated in 2001, encourages residents to beautify Windsor Street by planting gardens in the City boulevard. Blooming Boulevards enhance the walking and cycling environment of Windsor Street while promoting a greater sense of neighbourhood pride and ownership. Over 40 residences on Windsor Street have planted boulevard gardens, which are partially funded through the Park Board’s Neighbourhood Matching Fund. For more information on this project, contact 604-873-7271.

In 2003, local residents worked with artist Karen Kazmer to design and install metal banners on the lamp standards along Windsor Street. Funding for the banners was provided by the City’s Public Art Program.

Local residents also worked with the Engineering Department to develop the Windsor Bike Route. Construction of the Bike Route is scheduled to be complete by 2004. For more information on the bike route, please click here.

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Friends of Kingcrest

Kingcrest Park is one of the neighbourhood's largest and most visible parks, bounded by Knight Street and East 26th Avenue. In 2001 local residents held meetings and workshops to develop a proposal for park improvements. With the help of local landscape architects, gardeners and horticulturalists the group submitted a final proposal to the Park Board in 2002. Their vision for the park is for a combination of active and passive space including improved playing fields, perimeter pathways, more trees, space for dogs, new play structures for children, benches for people to ponder and lighting to improve security. The Park Board appropved the proposal in 2002 and funding will be provided through the Capital Plan. Construction is scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2004.

My Own Back Yard (MOBY)

MOBY, a new group in the Broadway & Commercial area, proposes to develop the Translink-owned vacant lots on East 11th for community gardens, a playground, greenway and public art.  Their goal is to improve the area through community effort.  For more information please contact Tina Dam at tinskad@gmail.com ).

KCC Listserve

The Kensington-Cedar Cottage Listserve allows members of the community to participate in discussions through an e-mail list. Your list serve subscription is free. To subscribe, send an e-mail to kcc-list@vancouvercommunity.net with the words “subscribe kcclist” in the body of the message. Subscribers will receive an e-mail confirmation from the listserve adminstrator with further details upon approval.

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Kingsway and Knight Neighbourhood Centre Program 

The completed Community Visions all contain directions for improvements to their key shopping areas and directions for new housing types in various locations. Together these directions address the provision for neighbourhood centres first described in CityPlan. Neighbourhood Centres are where shopping, services and new housing come together. The first neighbourhood centre to be implemented was the Kingsway and Knight Neighbourhood Centre. Council adopted a housing area and public realm plan for Kingsway and Knight in July 2004 after a two year public consultation program.

For more information, contact Abigail Riley, 604.873.7461, neighbourhoodcentres@vancouver.ca.

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The Clark/Knight Corridor Project

Clark Drive and Knight Street provide a vital transportation corridor through the City. The purpose of the The Clark/Knight Corridor Project is to examine the function and operation of the entire route, reconciling the street’s transportation function with neighbourhood liveability. Through an investigation of conditions and issues on the corridor, future planning and goods movement initiatives will be able to better incorporate transportation, land use and environmental considerations.

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New Public Art Fence at Commercial and Grandview Highway North

The City replaced the razor wire screen under the bridge deck on Commercial at  Grandview Highway North with a public art fence on the bridge.  An artist has been engaged through the City’s Public Art Program to design and fabricate images in black powder-coated steel, which will be mounted at the tops of some of the posts.

Contact David Ramslie ( david.ramslie@vancouver.ca )for more information.

Kingsway and Knight Business Outreach

A meeting was held in April 2004 where 16 businesses met to discuss opportunities for local business development and business association. The City continues to encourage businesses in the Kingsway & Knight area to gauge their interest in meeting with other local businesses.  For more information, contact 604-873-7271.

SkyTrain’s Community Relations Office

The SkyTrain’s Community Relations Office would like to hear from individuals and groups interested in developing projects and activities to make SkyTrain stations safer, cleaner and more community-friendly.  Ideas may include:  community safety initiatives, greening/gardening projects, greenway and bikeway connections, skateboard parks, play structures or art/cultural projects.  For more information, contact Tanya Howes at SkyTrain:  604-488-8910 or tanya_howes@translink.bc.ca.

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