Three visions for woodward's site arrive at city hall before deadline

VANCOUVER - Three proposals for re-developing the former Woodward's department store were delivered to Vancouver city hall before a Wednesday afternoon deadline, including one proposal that aboriginals carried across Burrard Inlet in a war canoe.

The competing proposals for the West Hastings landmark are still not public, because of a confidentiality agreement. The developers' architectural models and other details are to be released July 9 during a ceremony at city hall.

But that didn't stop one of the proponents from seeking publicity. The proposal by Millennium Properties was carried in a native war canoe from West Vancouver to Portside Park in Vancouver in a "vintage Woodward's box."

This October, after a series of workshops, meetings and reports, council is to select the company that will develop the old brick building. Other proponents are Westbank Properties and a coalition of two developers, Concert Properties and the Holborn Group.

© The Vancouver Sun 2004