OPEN LETTER: GREGORY HARTNELL TO VICTORIA N.D.P. M.P. DENISE SAVOIE: ‘Please speak out against proposed demolition of Victoria’s Johnson Street Bridge’

‘WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL’S

PLAN TO DEMOLISH + REPLACE

JOSEPH STRAUSS-DESIGNED JOHNSON STREET BRIDGE?’

 

CONCERNED CITIZENS’ COALITION

1357 Rockland Avenue

Victoria B. C.

Canada V8S 1V7

Tel.: 250 382 97 67

 

Ms. Denise Savoie, Member of Parliament

Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA

 

Dear Ms. Savoie:

Many Victorians are distressed to learn that the new N.D.P.-dominated Victoria City Council under Mayor Dean Fortin has plans to demolish and replace the Joseph Strauss-designed Johnson Street Bridge.

As you know, in the past the New Democratic Party could usually be relied upon to properly represent the greater public interest and particularly those interests of Victoria’s sizable heritage preservationist community.  The struggle to save Saint Anne’s Academy comes to mind.  The Concerned Citizens appreciate that longstanding tradition of good work in the public interest.

In the new Victoria Council’s haste to apply for federal sponsorship money from the so-called ‘Conservative’ government in Ottawa, the Council seems to have jettisoned that tradition, thus leaving many conservationists without a champion.

We are very interested to know what your position might be on the issue.  I looked at your website and did a search but was surprised to find that you have apparently not yet taken a public position on the issue.

As you may be aware, the Concerned Citizens’ Coalition shares your concerns about inappropriate development of publicly accessible pathways in the Songhees.  Like you, we oppose the planned Victoria International Marina proposed for that part of Victoria’s Inner Harbour.  We appreciate the many hours of work that you have already done in the public interest to bring light to bear on those inappropriate plans.

Likewise, we would be pleased to learn that you also share our concern about the proposed demolition and replacement of this significant heritage bascule bridge.

Three eminent local architectural historians have now spoken against this plan, one of them being an ex-colleague of yours, Martin Segger.  The other two are Yule Heibel who writes the architecture and planning column in FOCUS magazine, and Danda Humphreys, well-known as the author of four popular books on Victoria’s built environment.  I refer you to a link to our website where you can read the statements of these eminent scholars:

http://gregoryhartnell.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/three-eminent-victoria-architectural-historians-oppose-demolition-of-johnson-street-bridge-yule-heibel-danda-humphreys-martin-segger-recognize-significance-of-joseph-strauss-designed-blue-bridge/

Please speak out against this proposed demolition of Victoria’s Johnson Street Bridge, in the public interest.

 

Very sincerely yours

Gregory Hartnell, President

Concerned Citizens’ Coalition

CCC