Chinese-Canadian veterans, Chinatown organizations and residents held a press conference Friday morning (June 9) at the Chinatown Memorial Plaza to maintain their stance against the 105 Keefer Street rezoning application ahead of next Tuesday’s vote by Vancouver city council.
Beedie Development’ Group's proposal is to build a 12-story, 118-foot mixed-use residential building with 110 market housing units and 25 seniors' housing units on the second floor that will be purchased at cost by BC Housing.
Members of the Chinatown community said the proposed development will hurt Chinatown and its cultural heritage. Notable speakers included David Wong, architect and former staff member of the City of Vancouver’s planning department, and Jenny Kwan, MP for Vancouver East.
Wong was concerned about the possible gentrification that may come from introducing more expensive market units into the neighbourhood.
“The proposed cultural amenity space that reverts to potentially full market rates in just one short decade is not in the best interest of the community," Wong said. "Many of us in the profession wonder why the HA-1A zone was recently allowed to be considered at 120 feet when the original intent of the zoning and policy was to respect and preserve community assets. 105 Keefer has not earned the additional height and mass. This is not right.”
Kwan spoke about the history of Chinese veterans and railway workers, along with possible alternatives to a rezoning of the area.
“This project, 105 Keefer Street, if approved, will be 118 feet high, 12 stories. It is an enormously massive building that will overshadow this beautiful memorial square that honours the first Chinese-Canadians who came and fought for our rights," Kwan said.
She said she will ask the federal government to buy the property and "then have it developed in such a way that meets the needs of our community."
"We can do a land swap as another option, to have this kind of development go somewhere else that fits that narrative of those neighbourhoods much better than what it does here."
The company has defended the proposal, noting the site is an empty lot, and arguing the development will help the neighbourhood continue as a vital residential and business area.
