Chinatown Updates Discussion

[Vin]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Chinatown has lost its purpose. Every neighbourhood has a large variety of chinese shops and restaurants now. New arrivals don't live the way that old school Chinese did, they don't share the same customs/traditions anymore from the immigrants who settled there 100 years ago.

THe city is trying to keep it alive but it serves no purpose anymore. Its in transition now and we are seeing it change now, will take a while to get there.

I thought it's purpose is to provide the cheapest services possible to the local residents of Chinatown and Downtown Eastside, ie. for the SRO and retirement home residents who live nearby. Any hint of higher end businesses or developments to be part of Chinatown's future is rejected outright by the NGOs, who also insist on maintaining its chauvinistic idealism. Personally, I feel that it has fallen to its current state due to all the restrictions imposed on its development, and a general lack of grand vision. Maintaining the status quo only makes it worse, as can be seen from the development limbo of the mixed-use condo project next to the Chinese Garden.

Yes, it will take a while, or perhaps never will. Just remember that East Hastings used to be the high street of Vancouver. How much has it fallen: mostly because residents and the City allowed that to happen. Perhaps Chinatown will be next?

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2790179,...hXvVsB79xjm-Q__d8XYVg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2798983,...Eve1-jepGLOSfA7ZLbrsQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Shuttered shops:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2803503,...XOSEZn0ju_TSRhuJumLRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2804281,...qvBFYhDcxZt1KMagKZtiQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Disorderly environment:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2809056,...eF16WxeUhEyRLm8W7CuJg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Unkempt premises:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2794607,...et9UIeyXLOlcQqGaTjfNQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[SpongeG]

Perth has an area called Newtown which incorporates what little bit of a China Town that they have. It's not that built up with development but its full of life, bars, clubs, cafes, breweries etc. Vancouver needs to relax and allow more night spots to open. They have little takeaway spots, patios etc. It's just next to the CBD similar to how China town is here. So they have preserved the smaller older buildings and it's able to attract all kinds of crowds.

Takeaway spots were popular all over in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney.



Little restaurants/cafes open late


• Video Link



a late night spot with small food court style food vendors


alleyways/side streets with food places


Some pics i took, its winter so people there thought it was too cold lol, it was a comfortable temp. by our standards.

[Vin]

Yes, I remember Melbourne's Chinatown. Montreal's Chinatown is also a little similar to Melbourne's in that it has a long pedestrian street filled with little and larger shops/restaurants. Also, in Montreal I could see city cleaners sweeping the grounds 24/7. Nothing of that sort in Vancouver. Overall, Melbourne's Chinatown is a lot more inclusive, making it an awesome neighbourhood.

Montreal's Chinatown pedestrian alley
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5069098,...SciDYDpPFG1cbSpiiA7Pg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

one thing i notice about those photos from Australia, it looks like there is a lot of good lighting.

but we also have larger problems since last time i was in Chinatown at about 11:30am, middle of a sunny day, i saw a guy shooting up into his hand right in the middle of the sidewalk close to the chinese garden.

if you want to fix up the area, you need to start finding ways to stop that stuff from going on. it seems as a society we have accepted people doing that, with no issues what-so-ever. well, maybe that is a reason this is an area that is dying. like myself, most people don't 1- want to see people actively shooting up in the middle of broad daylight. and 2- don't want to be constantly on the look out for used needles you could step on.

people aren't going to go to an area that is for all intensive purposes a slum.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by Vin

The route that you said has improved is in fact where the handful of newer developments were at: ie. Union/Main and up till west of Main & south of Keefer.

However the rest of Chinatown has seen better days, and that includes East Pender, East Hastings (east of Main), and Keefer, with Gore Ave. shops at their most deplorable state in Chinatown's history.




Maybe they should learn from Victoria's Chinatown. Being inclusive is a good thing.

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4302816,...Scuga1l2a_S26A_Kw5kiA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4294522,...SWMzK81qOlwMWdsiCj3Ow!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4294201,...8-M-IWZ1MUnr_t1nM8F1Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4284878,...aDKb_tndYzoG1r91j-0-g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4293976,...Hk6jdWylYr3onUmlPE6Pg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

They tried that, then the city got pushed back. NIMBYism is almost like a romanticist religion in Vancouver proper.

Originally Posted by Vin

I thought it's purpose is to provide the cheapest services possible to the local residents of Chinatown and Downtown Eastside, ie. for the SRO and retirement home residents who live nearby. Any hint of higher end businesses or developments to be part of Chinatown's future is rejected outright by the NGOs, who also insist on maintaining its chauvinistic idealism. Personally, I feel that it has fallen to its current state due to all the restrictions imposed on its development, and a general lack of grand vision. Maintaining the status quo only makes it worse, as can be seen from the development limbo of the mixed-use condo project next to the Chinese Garden.

Yes, it will take a while, or perhaps never will. Just remember that East Hastings used to be the high street of Vancouver. How much has it fallen: mostly because residents and the City allowed that to happen. Perhaps Chinatown will be next?


https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2790179,...hXvVsB79xjm-Q__d8XYVg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2798983,...Eve1-jepGLOSfA7ZLbrsQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Shuttered shops:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2803503,...XOSEZn0ju_TSRhuJumLRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2804281,...qvBFYhDcxZt1KMagKZtiQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Disorderly environment:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2809056,...eF16WxeUhEyRLm8W7CuJg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Unkempt premises:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2794607,...et9UIeyXLOlcQqGaTjfNQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Even if Chinatown merges with the DTES, and becomes a drug-infested hole, gentrification and redevelopment is still going to be opposed by its residents. A si: http://rabble.ca/news/2012/02/moving-gentrification-vancouvers-downtown-eastside

I'm sorry, if the DTES was any less gentrified, it'd literally be devoid of humans. The fact that people are genuinely for the status quo is just...

The only argument I can understand are cheap rents.

[csbvan]

Chinatown has some of Vancouver's most impressive restaurants (Kissa Tanto, Bao Bei, Juniper, and some caliber casual spots), new high-end clothing boutiques (Miloh), one of the most impressive high-end knife shops in the city (Ai + Om), top notch coffee (Matchstick, Propaganda and Aubade), and galleries and art spaces. Not to mention how many of the historic buildings are seeing renovations. To say that Chinatown is becoming more like the DTES as opposed to the reality, which is that it has been decoupling from its neighbour and seeing gentrification and small-business investment, shows how out of touch many on this forum are with the on the ground reality of Vancouver. Compare Chinatown of 10 or 15 years ago to what it is today, it has been a massive shift despite its proximity to the DTES, which is itself shrinking (memories here are too short to remember Woodwards and surrounding area?).

[logan5]

Yeah I don't get where a few people have it in their head that Chinatown is deteriorating. It's a functional neighbourhood that is slowly improving. Once the viaducts are cleared away, there will be a large influx of people moving in. Chinatown is going to be one of the most interesting and diverse neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

[Vin]

Locals could be biased to say how great Chinatown is, etc, or how bad it is becoming from our own perspectives and biases, but let's see how visitors from other places rate it:

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Re...hinaTown-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/vancouver-chinatown-vancouver-2

[rofina]

Originally Posted by Vin

Locals could be biased to say how great Chinatown is, etc, or how bad it is becoming from our own perspectives and biases, but let's see how visitors from other places rate it:

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Re...hinaTown-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/vancouver-chinatown-vancouver-2

That was a bit of a sobering read, the Trip Adviser posts highlight how accustomed us Vancouverites have become to the homeless and drug problem in part of the City.

I guess it it is truly shocking to see people shooting up at all times of the day.

I generally agree that there is alot of positve in Chinatown, but it does have a long way to go as those posts suggest.

Huge thumbs up to Propaganda and Virtuous Pie.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by rofina

That was a bit of a sobering read, the Trip Adviser posts highlight how accustomed us Vancouverites have become to the homeless and drug problem in part of the City.

I guess it it is truly shocking to see people shooting up at all times of the day.

I generally agree that there is alot of positve in Chinatown, but it does have a long way to go as those posts suggest.

Huge thumbs up to Propaganda and Virtuous Pie.

That I totally agree. There is a condition called "being desensitized". Others are simply in denial mode.

There are a few nice spots in Chinatown today, but overall the neighbourhood is still pretty rundown. You can notice it more if you've seen Chinatowns outside Vancouver.

I like Virtuous Pie, Juke Fried Chicken and Dalina. Let's hope for more positive changes other than just restaurants and cafes.

[jlousa]

Not sure why people think Chinatown is deteriorating, it's the the strongest it's been in about two decades and still improving. As mentioned above, lots of new restaurants, retail and young blood moving into the area. There are certainly some issues that need addressing but the area is in the midst of an upswing. Gastown on the other hand has seen some energy bleed away lately as the next gen of entrepreneurs have moved to cheaper areas.

[logan5]

This building turned out excellent. Keefer street is mostly 80's era awfulness. Line that street with buildings like these.


https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2803754,-...tBLA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

[SpongeG]

looks good. Is it low income housing?

[logan5]

Market rental? Not sure.

[SpongeG]

ok, usually the low income social doesn't have balconies like that one seems to be missing

I prefer a balcony free style building such as that

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by logan5

Market rental? Not sure.

Market rental, called Brixton Flats, apparently renting from $1,695 a month.

[SpongeG]

ah ok

Did they redo the mural? wasn't there an outcry that the mural was getting covered up?


brixtonflats website

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Market rental, called Brixton Flats, apparently renting from $1,695 a month.

Units start at 355 sq feet. Unless that changed.

I like Chinatown. Even if it is a little too edgy right now. If I ever moved out of Mt. Pleasant, Chinatown would be considered.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

ah ok

Did they redo the mural? wasn't there an outcry that the mural was getting covered up?


brixtonflats website

It was recreated on the upper eastern flank wall. You have to look up to see it, but it's there. The original mural was only ever intended to be seen temporarily. The site was previously a gas station, so had no old building on it.

[officedweller]

From Changing City Updates:

728-796 Main Street

New:


https://changingcitybook.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/728-796-main-street/

Old:


https://changingcitybook.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/728-796-main-street/