[Cob] Cob cottage in peril

[Tim Nam]

I'm sorry to hear about your plight up there in
Vancouver.  One would think that a couple duplexes
could be built just about anywhere but there always
has to be some jerk who wants to destroy the most
beautiful spot just because he can.  Best of luck and
keep building better!

--- Ian Marcuse <dtebb at alternatives.com> wrote:

> Thank you very much to all cobbers who can help with
> this.
> 
> Since my message below has gone out on the cob list
> serve, here is a 
> little further information that I would like to add.
> 
> The Friends of Salsbury Garden successfully won a
> Board of Variance 
> appeal stopping the developer from going ahead with
> his development 
> plans. The Board of Variance agreed with the
> community that this 
> site, including large beautiful garden, cob house,
> and two historic 
> workers cottages (1907) represented a unique
> property worth saving.
> 
> Following our surprising win, which received a fair
> bit of media and 
> other attention, the landlord/developer issued us (6
> tenants) a 
> letter of eviction (minor renovations) and letter
> demanding removal 
> of cob. The reasons for the removal of the cob were
> given as 
> "attractive nuisance" a legal/insurance term
> refering to structures 
> hazardous and attractive to children who might get
> hurt eg, abandoned 
> swimming pools, rickety old garages. Clearly this is
> a ruse, but the 
> developers intentions seem serious. We have
> responded with a legal 
> letter to the effect that his request is illegal.
> 
> The intentions of the landlord appear to us to more
> about getting rid 
> of the activist opposition so that he can continue
> to pursue his 
> development plans.
> 
> The cob is part of the heart and soul of the garden.
> Its premature 
> demolition would indeed be cruel. Until when and if
> the landlord has 
> new development plans in which the cob must come
> down, we would 
> accept the loss. Until that time we will continue to
> work to try and 
> save the garden and cob, as we, and hundreds of
> others, including the 
> City, believe this very special green space is worth
> fighting for.
> 
> Thanks for any support. Check out our website for
> photos of the cob 
> house in Vancouver.
> 
> Warm regards,
> Ian Marcuse
> Friends of Salsbury Garden
> www.alternatives.com/cob-building
> http://www.members.shaw.ca/savethecobgarden/
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >All,
> >
> >I would like to make you aware of a situation in
> Vancouver that you 
> >might be interested in responding to. I copy Ian
> Marcuse's letter 
> >below, and will have a picture up shortly at
> www.cobinthepark.ca. 
> >Thanks for your attention.
> >
> >Georgie
> >www.cobinthepark.ca in Toronto
> >
> >Dear Cobbers and Salsbury Garden supporters,
> >
> >The Friends of Salsbury Garden have been working
> hard to try and 
> >save this very special garden with the cob house.
> Hundreds of 
> >community residents love and care deeply about
> protecting this place 
> >and have voiced their commitment to helping save
> it. 1,600 people 
> >signed our petition that we submitted to the City.
> 26 community 
> >organizations, including all three levels of
> government, have 
> >written letters and support preserving this green
> space and the 
> >possible development of children's learning
> programing in the garden.
> >
> >Despite the City's offers to the developer
> (including land value, 
> >expenses to date, and additional gravy), the
> developer, Niebuhr 
> >Construction, has refused to sell, claiming that
> the offer is not 
> >high enough. But why not listen to the community
> and accept the City 
> >offer. The developer, Richard Niebuhr would lose
> nothing (except 
> >potential profits) and would gain the enormous
> respect of both the 
> >community and the City. We continue to hope that
> Richard Niebuhr 
> >will reconsider and be moved to sell. Meanwhile, we
> will continue to 
> >explore win-win options that respect the
> developer's right to fair 
> >compensation.
> >
> >The developer is now, unecessarily demanding that
> the cob house be removed.
> >
> >We are asking for your help now by respectfully
> calling or sending 
> >e-mails to Richard Niebuhr, at the contact info
> below. Let him know 
> >how much you care about the garden and cob
> structure, why you care 
> >about the garden, and that you/we will continue to
> work hard to save 
> >it. There are hundreds of you out there and if we
> all send Richard 
> >Niehbuhr a short message, it will remind him just
> how much the 
> >community cares about this garden.
> >
> >Richard Niebuhr
> >220-3734 (cell) or 278-6844 (work)
> >richard at niebuhrhomes.com
> >
> >Please pass this on to anyone in your community
> that might help. 
> >Your support is greatly appreciated. Please feel
> free to call me if 
> >you want more information.
> >
> >Warm regards,
> >Ian Marcuse
> >Friends of Salsbury Garden
> >604-253-6281
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Coblist mailing list
> >Coblist at deatech.com
> >http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Coblist mailing list
> Coblist at deatech.com
> http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist
> 


Tim Kijoo Nam
Corvallis, OR
tkn317071 at yahoo.com
"We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live." -Socrates


		
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