Proposed $2M ‘uplifting Chinatown’ plan goes before Vancouver council
Posted January 13, 2023 1:42 pm.
A staff report that is set to go before Vancouver city council is outlining a $2.1 million project which aims to uplift the city’s Chinatown neighbourhood.
Revitalizing the neighbourhood was among Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC Party’s promises in the leadup to last October’s civic election. Council voted to direct staff to come up with a report during a meeting in November.
The report, which will be discussed on Jan. 17, would see council allocate $2,160,000 of the city’s 2023 operating budget to the project. Staff recommend the money come from taxpayers, either through reallocating money from other projects or increasing property taxes by 0.2 per cent.
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The “uplifting Chinatown” plan outlines three pillars: cleaning and sanitation, graffiti abatement strategies, and community support for the neighbourhood.
Most of the proposed money in the plan would go towards cleaning and sanitation, with a handful of cleaning programs slated to cost over $1.3 million.
The graffiti abatement strategies are set to cost $660,000, while community support would cost $50,000.
Establishing a city office in Chinatown is also allocated in the report, which staff say would cost $110,000.
In the background of the report, staff say that Chinatown is a “cultural gem” for the city.
“In recent years, Vancouver’s Chinatown has experienced significant challenges including but not limited to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of anti-Asian racism, and increasing
incidences of graffiti and vandalism,” the report says. “Chinatown continues to experience ongoing safety concerns that impact small businesses, residents, and cultural organizations.”
In the days after he was elected as mayor, Ken Sim highlighted some ideas to improve Chinatown. Some of those ideas included having a dedicated police officer to handle graffiti and allowing one hour of free parking to promote shopping in the neighbourhood.
The recent staff report made no mention of a police officer for graffiti and said that more information and input would be needed before a recommendation on the one-hour parking is made.
Multiple instances of graffiti and vandalism in Chinatown have prompted business and community leaders to demand the city do more to help out the neighbourhood.
-With files from Emily Marsten and Cole Schisler
