Dear Editor:
I happened to be in the vicinity of the Ferry Building, when Christine Ballantine's July 29 letter, Don't Pave Over Paradise, came to mind. Why would anyone consider destroying such a beautiful tranquil area that so many of us have enjoyed for years? Cementing over that area to erect buildings, even for an Arts Centre, amounts to the ultimate in stupidity. Future generation should not be deprived of that which others have enjoyed for years.
Most of today's art is hardly worth being described as such, but then art is subjective. If the arts centre were fortunate enough to house even one of Gordon Smith's amazing paintings, I would still prefer that it be built elsewhere.
West Vancouver needs to protect its natural beauty and cementing over large areas, especially by the ocean, amounts to the wilful destruction of that which we should treasure. If this project were to proceed, how much more of our tranquil waterfront areas would eventually also be lost to other projects?
In case some may consider my opinion regarding art as unenlightened, I feel obliged to mention that I was awarded a five-year art scholarship, to the prestigious Hornsey College of Art, in London, U.K..
Arline McFarlane West Vancouver
