Vancouver’s rising rent, property taxes put artists’ studios at risk: owner
Posted March 16, 2023 8:49 pm.
Last Updated March 16, 2023 8:54 pm.
A building owner in Vancouver says more than 100 artists could lose their homes and studios due to rising rent, and the city’s property taxes.
Jude Kusnierz, the executive director and founder of The Beaumont Studios, says closing its doors is a real possibility.
“We had been hopeful that the announcement of the split tax… on March 8th was going to see bigger differences between what we were currently paying and what we would pay in the future. And in the end, that number was significantly lower than we expected,” Kusnierz said.
Kusnierz says they’re now paying $7,000 more in rent and property tax per month — and this year’s 10.7 per cent property tax increase isn’t helping.
Related Article: Vancouver council approves budget, 10.7% property tax hike
Although the city has a new relief program aimed at lessening taxes for small business owners who pay more because of their buildings’ development potential, Kusnierz says it’s too little, too late.
“It’s like a slow-moving ship to get a response, or to see any action taken, when I’m just trying to keep our space alive,” she said.
Some of the artists in the building say they have a lot to lose if the building goes under.
“All of these artists, I mean, where do they go,” Musician LJ Mounteney said. “Will they be able to continue doing the work that they’re doing, showing the work that they’re doing?”
“The friendships and the camaraderie… like I have with these musicians, we can come here and rehearse some tunes and it’s convenient, and I don’t feel like I’m bothering anyone,” he added.
Kara Yoo, the owner of Kara Yoo Jewelry, says that she may not be able to afford moving if The Beaumont shuts down.
A trio of artists play music together at The Beaumont Studios. (Sarah Chew/CityNews)
“We make a lot of the products in our studio, which means that we’re employing people from the city…The rent we pay is not insignificant, and definitely, it’s hard to find space in Vancouver at a reasonable price. So if The Beaumont doesn’t exist, that means I would have to try and find something elsewhere, and everything’s really expensive, so it might not be possible,” Yoo said.
“I feel like artists need a place, and having an artist hub like that for people to visit, [it’s] a special thing… People can come here for workshops, and even people that I’ve taught how to sew, they wouldn’t get a chance. Like, they might not be able to afford to go to sewing school, but I could get them started,” Leta Forbister, the retail manager at The Beaumont Boutique, said.
The outside store front of The Beaumont Boutique (Sarah Chew/CityNews)
The executive director of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association says businesses are still struggling after the pandemic, but Vancouverites can play a big part in supporting them.
“Most of the businesses in Vancouver are small businesses, run by less than ten people, or sometimes less than 50 people. It is community support, it’s getting out there and supporting these businesses that your friends and your family work at,” Neil Wyles said.
Kusnierz has set up a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $42,000.
