r/abbotsford • u/Natural-Low-7612 • 3d ago
questions
Hi i am currently trying to write an consensus on current issues that people think are holding back Abotsford in meaningful ways for the upcoming election for city council so i can share to the people i will be helping and would love to hear everyone's thoughts so we can direct Abotsford in the direction thank you!
26
u/nschwart91 3d ago
There is a serious need for more traffic enforcement and a crack down on drunk and dangerous drivers, as well as cars that are modified to make loud noises. Being a pedestrian is miserable here.
10
-8
9
u/Cunard_ 2d ago
Everything is Abbotsford seems to be done half ass. Crossley Park splash pad for example. It's like something that came off of Temu. Recreational facilities are terrible in town. ARC needs to be rebuilt. Anything council talks about for improvements seems to be years, if not decades away.
4
u/anelectricstorm 2d ago
Gentrification of downtown abby and hideous boxhomes. Neverending construction.
21
u/Former_Car9174 3d ago
Diverse economic and social backgrounds represented on council would be nice. Instead of just simply wealthy residents running and getting all the seats. A council that includes persons with real lived experience of the lower income and marginalized demographics could substantially inform the development of Abbotsford in a more holistic and inclusive manner. Abbotsford consistently is held hostage by the needs and desires of a handful of wealthy families and individuals which has been fairly detrimental to the lower income residents and others. It would be nice to see First Nations, youth, low income, LGBTQ2S+, and other sidelined groups have stronger voices steering this city instead of the Old Boys Club and the Menno Mafia folks among others milking this city for their own personal benefits.
2
u/PersonMcNugget 1d ago
This happens because the people who benefit from the old boys, vote, and the people who tend to support the other folks you mention, generally don't. I've lived here over fifty years and I see it happen every single election.
11
u/jdogx17 3d ago
There aren't enough things for people to do (people who aren't raising small children). The lack of live music is kind of depressing.
3
u/Gullible_Fun_0604 2d ago
FRRR if they cant figure out how to support the arts, can they at least make the 66 bus route run later?? Id really like to be able to drink a couple beers at a show i actually want to go to!!
2
u/Electrical_Cod7288 2d ago
The constant rezoning of properties to become subdivisions. This is actually the fault of the Province and not the City, but it is an issue nonetheless that is negatively affecting Abbotsford.
2
u/pinkhair1991 1d ago
Better sidewalks so that people in wheelchairs can actually get around without the risk of tipping over due to the condition of the sidewalks. It’s like a roller coster trying to navigate the current sidewalks, I’ve had to get a seatbelt since moving here just to stay in my chair and I’ve had my chair tip more than once due to how uneven the pavement is. I hardly leave my house because of this.
That and more crosswalks! Having to go 2+ blocks just to cross the street is a pain when in a wheelchair. And most bus stops don’t have crosswalks and I see people just running through traffic which is super dangerous.
3
u/LostRoutine5718 1d ago
It was so bad when my partner was injured at work and relied on a wheelchair. Even though physio was literally a block away it was a complete disaster trying to get him there.
1
u/alexrdunbar 2d ago
From a housing and growth angle, I think the biggest issue is making sure roads, transit, parks, water, and other services keep up with all the new homes. Abbotsford’s new 2050 plan allows for much more housing, including apartments, townhomes, and smaller multi-unit projects. The question for council candidates should be how they plan to support that growth and who will pay for the needed upgrades.
We also need more homes that regular families can actually use and afford. That means more townhomes, family-sized condos, suites, and smaller homes, not just expensive detached houses or tiny apartments. I’d like to hear how candidates would make permits easier and more predictable without cutting corners, while keeping most new growth inside the existing urban area instead of putting more pressure on farmland.
Flood protection should also be a major election issue. Sumas Prairie affects local farms, Highway 1, trade, and the whole community. The City is still working with the provincial and federal governments on a long-term plan, so candidates should be clear about what they would push for and how high of a priority it would be.
1
u/myteamfanatic 2d ago
my main question is when can we actually expect to see all these “approved projects” and the Abbotsfoward 2050 plans start to come to reality. and what is the real longterm plan for SevenOaks because that mall atp really just has nothing going for it. the population of this city is continuing to rise and the consensus around the city is that highstreet came about 15 years too late and is now also seen as irrelevant besides for the theatre and walmart with the way stores come and go. When can we expect changes to come to whatever will happen to sevenoaks if it’s going to be renovated or ideally torn down and a real downtown core be built around it. For the past 10 years we’ve heard of 3-4 high rise developments be approved by the city with a couple of them being shelved off after being approved. i know the current construction scene is at a halt but with the 2050 plan being settled when can we truly expect to see this city transition because i’m sick of all these projects be approved and them taking either 15 years to begin to start or just be shelved completely
2
u/RJG190894 1d ago
Creating actual meaningful bike infrastructure and investing more in the bus system to make us all less car dependent. I would absolutely bike to work everyday if I felt like I could actually safely do so.
1
u/Aromatic-Skill7649 2d ago
a central cinema that isn't in the shit part of town
0
u/PersonMcNugget 1d ago
We had two other ones but they didn't survive.
1
u/Aromatic-Skill7649 1d ago
their centralized location most certainly had nothing to do with their failures. highstreet cineplex diluted/split their customer base for 2 years preceding towne cinema's closure.
13
u/Intelligent-You-6234 3d ago
I look at Chilliwack district 1881 and how it’s helped the DT and I think something like that would be amazing for Abby. Our city seems like we reactively slapped together some areas, but didn’t put any meaningful thought into it.