No resolution on controversial Vancouver Chinatown development

The controversy surrounding a luxury condo development at 105 Keefer Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown is no closer to being resolved, as the city’s development permit board has delayed its decision until next month.

Many who spoke at Monday’s hearing condemned the idea of market-price condos in the area, explaining that the entire project didn’t fit the neighbourhood.

As so many people turned up to speak at the hearing, another session was scheduled for June 12.

It is the sixth time developer Beedie Living has gone before the board for approval. The condo building would include nine levels of condos, but would not have any social housing units. The company previously made a proposal in 2017 that was rejected, prompting a lawsuit from Beedie claiming the board’s decision was unfair and made in bad faith. In 2022, the court ruled the city had to reconsider the proposal.

That moment when someone from Beedie’s side yelled “ENOUGH!” as seniors and youth chanted “United, we’re stronger” ✊ #105Keefer #vanpoli #ChinatownYVR pic.twitter.com/zRE4F49Vh7

— Melody Ma | 馬勻雅 (@melodyma) May 30, 2023

The Vancouver Tenants Union says at a community town hall event late last week, more than 500 residents of the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown voted against Beedie’s plans, in favour of building social housing residences at welfare and pension rates.

“Supporters of the delegation disrupted the event, chanting and walking out of the hearing to send a message, telling the development permit board that residents have already decided on the fate of the 105 Keefer site,” the tenants union said.

Related Article: Building proposal in Vancouver’s Chinatown faces opposition

“If the city government is genuinely determined to address the various problems in the Downtown Eastside, from my perspective as a low-income resident of Chinatown, building social housing is the fundamental solution. Until this goal is achieved, I sincerely urge you to use your leadership in the City of Vancouver, to oppose this project,” one Chinatown resident told the board.

In footage posted to social media, Chinatown residents filled the development hearing room chanting “United, we’re stronger” during the meeting.

#105Keefer People’s Rally and Development Permit Board happening right now. Watch live https://t.co/4gd5HbvLGS #vanpoli #ChinatownYVR pic.twitter.com/Z5t1QaaxsD

— Melody Ma | 馬勻雅 (@melodyma) May 29, 2023

Speaker Clare Yow told the board she has rented a below-market unit in the neighbourhood for over five years, and explained that she is “deeply concerned about 105 Keefer and the threat it presents to existing residents in the Downtown Eastside — many of whom are low-income, working class, and senior citizens.

“I believe the development not only expedites the displacement of existing residents and workers and is not the ‘careful revitalization’ that Beedie Living claims they are engaged in.

“I want to end by reminding the board of the city’s commitment to heritage, to ‘not only acknowledge our past, but to identify, protect, and pass on diverse cultural values and assets to future generations.’ This project is neither inclusive nor equitable for the vast majority of Chinatown’s residents,” she explained.

Despite opposition from some, the president of the neighbourhood’s business improvement society says the proposed development could be a good thing.

“There is a need for having people in the neighbourhood to create vibrancy and service the businesses… I think definitely we want to see storefront, retail, small-scale just to kind of work within the nature of our community – we’re all small business people, small business owners,” said Jordan Eng, president of the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Association.

In a statement to CityNews, Beedie says “105 Keefer will bring additional much-needed mixed-use housing to the area, which aligns the City of Vancouver’s efforts to make the historic community prosperous again.”

–With files from Sarah Chew