Dear Editor,
Re: “Onni hopes fest will garner public support,” News, Feb. 17.
First of all, it’s time for all parties — Onni, City of Richmond, Steveston merchants — to stop fighting and start working together to do something about this now four-year problem.
To keep it zoned as light marine just doesn’t make sense to me.
It would take years and tall ships full of money to build a marina with all the necessary accompanying infrastructure and environmental considerations it would need.
Imperial Landing should have tenants that are unique and which are going to draw people to Steveston and, as a consequence, make the whole village a livelier place for all, including the existing merchants.
If an agreement can be reached, I would also plead that consultation must be done with the city and the citizens and merchants of Steveston as to the makeup of businesses which will go in there.
Steveston doesn’t need any more coffee shops, nail salons, hair salons, banks, pharmacies, thrift stores, book stores, Chinese food restaurants, sushi restaurants, daycare centres or dental/medical clinics.
This beautiful and unique setting should not be used for the mundane simply as a way to generate rent for the developer and tax dollars for the city.
Steveston is Richmond’s jewel and should be treated and displayed as such.
Donald Grant
Richmond
