City of Vancouver council voted to consult further with the Downtown Eastside community before considering allowing taller buildings in the area. However, council advanced the discussion of allowing taller buildings in Chinatown by referring that question to public hearing.
That was the upshot of last week’s council meeting (January 20).
“I think what council did was a prudent move to separate out the very distinct communities and give each community the chance to move their specific agenda items forward,” said Coun. Raymond Louie, who moved the motion.
“The Downtown Eastside wanted to have greater certainty in terms of the implications of what extra height and density might have on that neighbourhood,” he said. “An impact study which we had asked for a year ago, wasn’t completed yet by staff, so it was felt that it was important for that to be completed prior to council considering additional heights and densities in the area.”
Chinatown, Louie added, was a different story.
“It was very important for council – well not all of council, for Vision Vancouver – to help revitalize Chinatown,” he said.
“The economic situation and the amount of boarded up businesses in the area is not acceptable. We wanted to move to a quicker redevelopment of certain sites in the area, hopefully bringing more customers and residents to the area to enliven the area and bring safety because we have more eyes on the street.”
Louie added this direction was “clearly supported” by the Chinese community. He noted that the move would protect heritage buildings along Pender Street.