Shelley Rupert has seen lots of changes in her West Cambie neighbourhood over the years.
And the prospect of yet another change is one the resident welcomes with open arms.
She believes - as opposed to a 14-acre, Walmartanchored shopping centre bringing the neighbouhood down - it will drag the place up by the scruff of the neck.
"It sure would be nice to be able to walk to a neighbourhood mall," she told city council's planning committee this week.
"The location makes sense, close to connector roads and bridges; people here need choices.
"For those people who want to keep urban forests, West Cambie Park is nearby. Also nearby are abandoned homes with junk outside and many homes filled with people of questionable character."
Rupert questioned how many more loopholes must shopping centre plan proponent Smartcentres jump through. "It's time to get this going and make this area an actual neighbourhood," she added.
"For me, this plan is more of a beautification than anything else."
