City council proposes changes to Chinatown. Will it help?

Good morning!

I was lucky enough to visit Whistler this weekend. Well, lucky may be an overstatement, since it was about as rainy as a normal Vancouver winter day. Sadly all this rain at lower altitudes hasn’t resulted in more mountain snow.

Today we’ve got a breakdown of big changes in Chinatown, skyscraper-sized development costs, and for all you rail fans, the return of a popular train route.

Let’s get at it.

— Geoff Sharpe

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Weather Report

Monday: 8 🌡️ 6 | 🌧

Tuesday: 7 🌡️ 5 | 🌧

Wednesday: 8 🌡️ 3 | 🌧

WEEKLY LOOKOUT

Chinatown changes: The new city council will debate the future of Chinatown, with a focus on cleaning and sanitation, graffiti reduction, and community supports. [Global News]

New year: After two years without it, Vancouver will once again celebrate Lunar New Year in style. Head over to Chinatown this Sunday to catch all the festivities. [Daily Hive]

COMMUNITY

Chance of changes in Chinatown?

What’s happening: A new set of policies to revitalize Chinatown are heading to city council this week. Called The Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan, it lays out a number of strategies to address ongoing public safety and livability issues, as reported by Global.

These include a focus on:

• Cleaning and sanitation;

• Graffiti abatement strategies and placemaking;

• And community supports in Chinatown.

The numbers: The entire project is slated to cost $2.16 million in the 2023 operating budget. This would mean a 0.2% property tax increase or corresponding budget cuts. The big budget items include:

• $150,000 for graffiti abatement;

• $125,000 for neighbourhood clean up program;

• $110,00 for dedicated staffing at a Satellite City office in Chinatown;

• And $50,000 for a safewalk program developed and implemented by the Chinatown BIA.

Other notable actions include increasing the feces collection program from one to five days a week, increasing cleaning services, and providing more recommendations about on- and off-street parking rates by the end of the first quarter.

Dig deeper: You can read the entire plan by city council here.

• The final resolution within the report also outlines how San Francisco’s Chinatown addressed similar issues, by expanding sanitation and cleaning resources, coordination with the city and beautification of the community.

For context: Empty storefronts, for lease signs and crime have increased recently, especially during the pandemic, according to Global News. Issues around the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and by extension Chinatown, are considered one of the main reasons Sims won the mayoral race.

Yes, but: Chinatown is not an island; it sits adjacent to the Downtown Eastside. Issues in that community directly affect Chinatown. So will graffiti removal really solve the issue? Lasting changes on this scale will likely require provincial involvement and funding. The good news is Premier David Eby has already indicated fixing the DTES is a major priority, according to City News.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🍲 10%: The percentage of Vancouver households struggling with food security, which has been exacerbated by rising cost of living. [CBC]

🏠 8th: The place Vancouver sits in terms of home shelter costs in Canada in 2022. Overall shelter costs in Canada increased 14%. [Vancouverisawesome]

HOUSING

Skyscraper-sized development costs

What is it: The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) says the City of Vancouver charges some of the highest fees to build new high-rise buildings in Canada, according to reporting by Urbanized.

• The group says it costs $125,542 per unit, or $157 per square foot, up 25% from 2020.

These numbers are similar to a CMHC study in 2022 that showed a price of $140 per square foot, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Yes, but: Do you like your toilet? Many of these costs are for critical infrastructure investments, like sewers, according to the city. Ditto for parks, childcare facilities and other infrastructure that’s needed for communities.

Dig deeper: It also takes much longer to get permits approved, with Vancouver taking around 15 months for a building development application, according to Urbanized. But we aren’t number one. That distinction goes to neighbouring Burnaby at 27 months.

JOBS

Looking for a career change? These jobs might help:

1. Communications officer, digital specialist at St. Paul's Foundation

2. Channel and branding and marketing and Fantuan

3. Senior communications and engagement lead at TransLink

4. Head of global community at data.ai

5. Writer and researcher at FortisBC

QUICK HITS

🚆 Train fans rejoice! Amtrak has brought back roundtrip service between Vancouver and Portland. Amtrak trains returned back in September after two years due to pandemic restrictions. [CBC]

🏒 Former Canuck Gino Odjick has died at the age of 52. A fan favourite, he played for the Canucks for eight seasons and was considered one of the league's toughest players with 2,5000 penalty minutes. [CTV]

🚓 Police are seeking a man facing charges of assault and indecent exposure after he failed to appear in court. [Global News]

💊 A provincial pilot program to decriminalize small amounts of drugs is facing criticism for not including people under the age of 18. On Jan. 31, anyone can posses up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA, and face no criminal charges. [CBC]

🏢 A proposed condo development near SkyTrain Marine Drive Station could see up to 146 rental homes, including 141 market rental units and five units below market pricing. [Urbanized]

🏒 Canucks president Jim Rutherford is looking into the situation surrounding player Tanner Pearson’s second surgery. Defenceman Quinn Hughes expressed concern, saying the team mismanaged Pearson’s recovery process. [TSN]

🏘️ A developer has submitted an application to build 100 rental units on Granville Island. Public comments are now being accepted. [CTV]

📈 Interest rates are causing problems for pre-sale home owners in the lower mainland. Those who agreed to a fixed price before skyrocketing interest rates are now finding it hard to get adequate financing. [CityNews]

EVENTS

Food

Dumpling Fest Vancouver, Wednesday: Experience different dumplings, from Chinese to Italian at different places around town. Tickets start at $54.

Alcohol-free wine tasting night, tomorrow: Discover alcohol removed wines, cheese and chocolates at Weklab. Tickets are $46.

Community

Cosmic Nights — The Multiverse, Thursday at 6:30 pm: Learn more about astronomy and space, with a planetarium show, drinks and science demonstrations at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Tickets $28.

Cold plunge and breath work, Thursday at 5:30 pm: Get acquainted with the cold and meet some other locals at Kitsilano Beach. By donation.

Business

Vancouver Tech morning coffee, tomorrow at 8:00 am: Connect with the Vancouver tech community at ECOMsquare. Free.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• How’s your wine knowledge? Our food editor Jamie breaks down where to find speciality wine in Vancouver and tips on ordering wine at restaurants. Plus he recommends a great Peruvian restaurant.

• Kent’s kitchen is an affordable dining gem in Chinatown that is worth checking out. [Dished]

• CBC has a follow-up story on how Vancouver could make more public spaces like the Shipyards in North Vancouver. [CBC]

• There are some very affordable flights available for Vancouver to Tokyo, Japan and Hanoi, Vietnam. [Vancouverisawesome]

• Top Rope Birria food truck was visited by a popular Canadian celebrity. [Dished]

• Vancouver art gallery This Gallery is looking to raise money from the community to continue their affordable gallery funding model. [Vancouverisawesome]

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Flu has flown the coup

In some good news to start off your week, flu cases are on the decline throughout B.C according to CityNews. RSV rates are also on the decline.

TWEET OF THE DAY

Today’s tweet of the day is from actor Stephen Amell who portrayed Green Arrow in the CW’s DC TV show universe. For some of you that entire sentence may make no sense, but his comments about Vancouver is something everyone can appreciate.

QUIZ

Sadly no one replied to our VancouverGeoguesser. We're going to assume you're all just too shy.

Today's news quiz is a little easier and is from an earlier story in the newsletter. What is the name of the city the Amtrak train once again services from Vancouver? Hint: it’s a self-titled weird city.

Reply with your name and the correct answer and we’ll feature it in the next edition.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Reddit user mix_master_matt shared this photo of the Yaletown Seawall. Watch where you step!

Have a photo you want shared? Send it in with a description and it could be featured in our newsletter.