The new era of the Downtown Eastside

What happens when we start caring about the DTES?

The Pidgin buzz has died since the photo-op began a few weeks ago, but the issues and the conflict are at the forefront of the next great debate surrounding the eastside. How do we develop it responsibly?

There’s something brewing. From the restaurants to multi-million dollar SRO renovations to condo developments, the neighbourhood has entered a new phase that began with the renovation of the Woodward’s building and the introduction of idea of the “social mix”.

This has not been without considerable controversy. Pidgin is being picketed, SROs are raising rents and shutting out welfare residents while dealing with significant quality of life issues and housing developments have become the battleground for business interests intersecting with those who would rather see more social housing.

The buzzword, gentrification, is old but the conversation is new, all these issues have blossomed after the Olympics. Far from another feature of how bleak the downtown eastside is (although when Atira CEO Janice Abbott mentions sewage flooding up through the waterpipes…), this is the topic of what happens with this neighbourhood when money is thrown at it. What is bringing businesses and condos in doing to the downtown eastside?

Overheard at last week’s 611 Main rezoning hearing

The new 17-storey building set to built at 611 Main St in the heart of Chinatown.

Vancouver city council heard public opinion last week regarding the development of a 17-story mixed use building in the heart of Chinatown. The proposal, approved by council, will create 134 new housing units, 22 units of social housing reserved for seniors and a mix of retail and office space at the corner of Keefer Street and Main Street.

Those who spoke were predominantly local business owners who supported the injection of vibrancy and prosperity the project promised in a space currently occupied by a long abandoned casino building or social housing advocates fearful of the city’s new gentrification boogie man.

Notably, the project contains social housing units only for seniors and not low-income residents. While 11 units will be rented at no more than the shelter rate of $375 per month, six units will be rented out at the Vancouver housing income limit of $850 and the remaining will be rented at full market value which is currently about $900 to $950 a month.

Chinese New Year in Vancouver’s Chinatown

It’s parade weekend in Chinatown.

Chinese New Year began on February 10 as we welcome the Year of the Snake, and there’s no better place to celebrate than in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown.

Promoters are working hard to make Chinatown the premier Chinese New Year destination in the Lower Mainland, including re-vamping the traditional night fair to compete with those in Richmond, and a massive weekend celebration at the International Village.

It will culminate in the massive Year of the Snake parade occurring February 17, where more than 50,000 people are expected to attend the 40 incarnation of the popular event.

The parade will begin at Millennium Gate and go from Pender down to Gore before looping back down Keefer. Organizers will also hold a cultural fair in the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza on Pender Saturday and Sunday.

If you can’t make it down for any events, you can always amuse yourself with this feed of recent photos on Flickr.