Park board approves Boathouse patio expansion at Kitsilano Beach

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      Despite the fact speakers were split on the issue, park board commissioners were unanimous in giving the go-ahead to a 56-seat outdoor patio at the Boathouse Restaurant on Kitsilano Beach.

      “Boathouse has been a very good partner,” Vision Vancouver board vice-chair Aaron Jasper said after the 7-0 vote at the April 16 board meeting.

      KitsFest founder Howard Kelsey and Julien Phipps of the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce gave their support, along with Kelly Gordon, chief operating officer with Boathouse Restaurants of Canada Inc.

      “We’re going to be around for a long time, that’s the reality of it,” Gordon told commissioners in his address.

      The park board staff report noted, “During the busy summer season the Boathouse has to turn away guests due to the high level of demand.”

      However, Kitsilano resident Don Haslam spoke against the proposal, which will see the patio add 56 seats through a green space buffer zone facing the residential areas.

      “I have to say that, my gut reaction when a tenant is not paying minimum rent to the parks board, but only a percentage of gross sales, there can arise a conflict of interest, with the parks board wanting to maximize gross sales rather than to minimize problems with neighbours,” Haslam said at the meeting.

      The patio will be a seasonal operation, running from June through September and closing at 9:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

      Lynne Kent expressed her own concerns regarding the corporate ownership of Boathouse Restaurants of Canada Inc., now owned by Landry’s Inc., which bought out parent company McCormick & Schmick’s last November.

      Kent noted that Landry’s, which has headquarters in Houston, Texas, boasts “dining, hospitality, entertainment and gaming” on its website.

      Kent suggested the link to gambling may not please some people, who “may not really want to see money being shipped out to some rich guys in Texas”.

      In July 2005, local entrepreneur Peter Barnett opened what was then known as the Watermark Restaurant on Kits Beach. Barnett sold to the Boathouse chain in 2010.

      Comments

      4 Comments

      RF

      Apr 18, 2012 at 7:04pm

      I'm totally thinking eco-density. I'm thinking a prime multi-faceted real estate expansion project ready to meet the demands and challenges of the new millennium. There's ample room for expanded parking, a state-of-the-art arena-sized beach volleyball facility, a true west coast retail shopping experience, and a 56-story condo with a lawn on top - all with spectacular ocean views of the best place on earth ever. Not only would this provide over 30,000 jobs and over 16 billion dollars in annual revenue, but it would really put us on the map again some more. Also, more palm trees so that we look like someplace else.

      W. End

      Apr 18, 2012 at 9:53pm

      Thanks RF - and you didn't even mention how much your proposal will assist in improving housing affordability by increasing the supply of luxury condos!

      Paganista

      Apr 18, 2012 at 11:55pm

      the Parks board under that Torontiam has been disastrous. The idiot allowed that Cactus Club to cater to HIS tastes but also mensured their entrance blocked the bike path with bodies waiting to get in.

      Gregor is taking us all for fools. This was his plan all along, baffle us with eco-bullshit while ensuring the rich and super rich have a great place to land. Screw everyone else.

      Perhaps I should be mayor.

      karma jon

      Apr 21, 2012 at 11:36pm

      More useless glitz in Kits. I used to like that park but this restaurant has ruined it. Who allowed such a monstrosity in the first place and how does the current band of political aspirants (being a PB commissioner is the gateway drug for civic politics isn't it; anyone with good intentions got crushed by the Vision bullies and we're left with Commissions with a questionable commitment to the well being of parks and a full time commitment to their future in politics) think a beer garden next to a childrens playground will help anyone.