Chinatown Updates Discussion

[Vin]

Shelf everything in Chinatown and let it decay as all the efforts made so far are in vain. Wait for a better government and UDP body to take over and make the place better, if that's the will of the people.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Shelf everything in Chinatown and let it decay as all the efforts made so far are in vain. Wait for a better government and UDP body to take over and make the place better, if that's the will of the people.

When it comes to commercial activity, especially bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, there are few areas in Vancouver with as much going on as Chinatown.

[logan5]

Chinatown is also benefiting from the other densifying neighbourhoods like SEFC and Mt. Pleasant, so even if development stalls a bit in Chinatown, things are still going to happen. Main Street is where it's at.

[SpongeG]

i drove down pender the other night it was fairly lively and noticed a lot of hipster kinda places have opened up taking over the old school chinese shops.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by csbvan

When it comes to commercial activity, especially bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, there are few areas in Vancouver with as much going on as Chinatown.

Yeah that's because the rest of Vancouver is equallly sad. Also, there are only that many coffee shops and bars that we need in certain neighbourhoods. Without newer projects coming in, Chinatown won't achieve critical mass and will start decaying again. An example is the vacated HSBC on Main and Keefer. If there is enough residents living there, stores like Dollarama or Shoppers will take up the space. Now its unleased, although a small Timmies is opening up around the corner.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by Changing City

There's a new Chinatown project for the Chinatown Supermarket site at 239 Keefer. Three storey commercial podium and 25 condos. More here.

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Here's the updated proposal of 239 Keefer that reflects the recommendations from the UDP. Banished is the overbearing red tones, the replacement looks to be a white and green colour scheme; the material board was not on hand. Happily, the bamboo shaded amenity space has also been reworked, and I think it is far more functional now. I forgot to check if the unit counts /FSR were the same as the first proposal, but I was already getting plenty of funny looks from those waiting in line to vote. I assume this will be heading to the UDP meeting next week.

[officedweller]

Beedie's latest version of 105 Keefer (no rezoning required)
rejected by Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee (CHAPC).

Vancouver Chinatown advisory committee rejects new development application for 105 Keefer Street
https://www.straight.com/news/982391...ion-105-keefer

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Beedie's latest version of 105 Keefer (no rezoning required)
rejected by Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee (CHAPC).

Vancouver Chinatown advisory committee rejects new development application for 105 Keefer Street
https://www.straight.com/news/982391...ion-105-keefer

The new application filed by the Beedie Group doesn’t include any units for public housing, which was also a concern noted in the last CHAPC meeting on October 12.

“Some members felt that it would have been nice, if, as a gesture from the developer, that they could have included some sort of amenity to the community,” Lee said, citing the absence of housing for low-income seniors.

these people, they are crazy. they complain about social housing, it gets cancelled, they complain about building heights, it gets lowered, and now they are complaining about lack of social housing and that it should be 3-4 floors.

they have amended that proposal like 4x now. damn. no wonder housing costs are so high, the developers want all their money back from the application process.

they should just leave this place an abandoned lot after all this grief they are getting. that'll fit into the neighbourhood more then any non-rundown building will.

i don't see how the Development Permit Board can say no, it falls within all the current rules. i guess we will find out Oct. 30

[officedweller]

Alternatively, Beedie could sell off a parcel or two piecemeal, and what would get built is a series of separate buildings, each about 7-8 stories tall if the others in the area are any indication.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

these people, they are crazy. they complain about social housing, it gets cancelled, they complain about building heights, it gets lowered, and now they are complaining about lack of social housing and that it should be 3-4 floors.

Are they the same people?

[GenWhy?]

Keefer Gardens is having the same issues in the area, which is unfortunate.

[Vin]

I call this Ethnic Chinese Chauvinism. For a supposedly inclusive society, I think this is truly sad and unacceptable. I wonder how many of those in those in the Chinatown "Advisory Committee" actually live and work in Chinatown. This is classic: "We’ve seen in the past how that sort of contribute to the gentrification [of the neighbourhood"...isn't this a good thing?!


From: The Georgia Straights

Vancouver Chinatown advisory committee rejects new development application for 105 Keefer Street
https://www.straight.com/news/982391...ion-105-keefer

The committee that advises the City of Vancouver about Chinatown heritage has refused to support a new application to develop 105 Keefer Street.

The Beedie Group has filed a development application for a nine-storey condo building in the site, which heritage advocates consider to be a culturally sensitive area.

The proposed development is located adjacent to the Chinatown Memorial Plaza. Two other major landmarks are found also in the vicinity. These are the Chinese Cultural Centre and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden across Columbia Street.

In its last meeting, the Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee (CHAPC) decided that it cannot endorse the project.

According to committee chair Helen Lee, there was a lot of discussion meeting about whether or not the condo development was a proper match for the site.

Lee said that there was a general agreement that market housing "wasn’t quite the appropriate fit for it".

“We’ve seen in the past how that sort of contribute to the gentrification [of the neighbourhood]," Lee told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview Tuesday (October 17).

Lee, an urban planner, said that there were also concerns about how the proposed condo development will affect the character of the area.

She pointed that with new developments expected in the Northeast False Creek to the south, the area will become a “fairly major entry point into Chinatown”.

Because of its central location, advocates like Fred Mah, chair of the Chinatown Society Heritage Buildings Association, are saying that a new development should make a statement to that it is a gateway to the neighbourhood.

Lee also said that the proposed nine-storey development is not consistent with the general heights of buildings in the historic district, which are typically three or four floors.

The Beedie Group is proposing to develop 111 condo units on the upper floors of the project. There will be retail and a cultural space for seniors on the ground floor.

The project is a scaled-down version of the company’s previous proposal, which was subject to a rezoning application that city council turned down in June this year.

The proposal that came before council involved a 12-storey building with 106 condo units, and an additional 25 units to be purchased by the B.C. government for social housing.

The new application filed by the Beedie Group doesn’t include any units for public housing, which was also a concern noted in the last CHAPC meeting on October 12.

“Some members felt that it would have been nice, if, as a gesture from the developer, that they could have included some sort of amenity to the community,” Lee said, citing the absence of housing for low-income seniors.

The Beedie Group project will be taken up on October 30 by the Development Permit Board, which will have the final say on the application.

Follow Carlito Pablo on Twitter at @carlitopablo.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by Vin

I call this Ethnic Chinese Chauvinism. For a supposedly inclusive society, I think this is truly sad and unacceptable. I wonder how many of those in those in the Chinatown "Advisory Committee" actually live and work in Chinatown. This is classic: "We’ve seen in the past how that sort of contribute to the gentrification [of the neighbourhood"...isn't this a good thing?!

Wow, really unintentionally ironic post, considering how other posts talk about development, gentrification and, uh, the chinese/chinese-canadians.


look at one wise poster said:

One may not have racist intentions when the person mentions or highlights about a social problem, but by targeting only an ethnic group from a certain country to scapegoat in order to vent frustrations or to put constant blame on, that is a different story. This is totally analogous to what Hitler and Trump had been or are doing with their racist rhetorics.

The housing problem is more myriad and complex than the mere greed of one group of foreigners; it also involves the follies of locals and government alike, but these were almost never mentioned. That makes it racist. We have posters here who openly despise and degrade the Chinese for their culture, history and country of origin, and other Canadians are supposed to just "lap it up"?

[mezzanine]

I would be interested to see how this plays out. If anything I am sympathetic to the CT neighbourhood group. they are advocating for smaller form development and more inclusivity, and other things that go against increasing property values, which IMO is unusual in Vancouver. IMO, leaving it a vacant lot for the next chunk of time would not be the end of the world and maintain a countercultural vibe to the area.

[officedweller]

288 East Hastings St.

Taken Sept 24th by City of Rain, SkyRise Cties:

Originally Posted by City Of Rain, post: 1265160, member: 70034

IMG_4029 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

IMG_4049 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

IMG_4056 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

IMG_4058 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

Originally Posted by City Of Rain, post: 1265161, member: 70034

^^^^

IMG_4060 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

IMG_4065 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

IMG_4074 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

IMG_4066 by City Of Rain, on Flickr

[bc2mb]

If only the brick and dark panels could be continued up the building.. not a fan of the lighter upper floors.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by bc2mb

If only the brick and dark panels could be continued up the building.. not a fan of the lighter upper floors.

Yeah, they look terrible.

[csbvan]

It's half a nice building. Unfortunate that it couldn't be more cohesive.

[osirisboy]

The city has to stop this bullshit of making the top half or upper floors a light spandrel mess in the failed efforts of trying to minimize the impact of the building, it doesn't! It makes it worse

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

The city has to stop this bullshit of making the top half or upper floors a light spandrel mess in the failed efforts of trying to minimize the impact of the building, it doesn't! It makes it worse

Yes.