Why one Vancouver developer is trying to defer their taxes

Hullo everyone!

No didn’t misspell it, that’s the name of the new private ferry service between Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver. With the lowest ticket price of $39.99, it’s not a bad deal to arrive right downtown.

Of course, the last private ferry service didn’t fare well, with fare prices that were downright un-fare.

Enough bad puns. Here’s what we’ve got today:

• Why is one developer trying to defer their taxes 💸

• Vancouver’s air quality situation 😷

• And which Italian restaurants and breweries picked up awards this week 🍕

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout newsletter writer

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WEATHER

Friday: 16 🌡️ 13 | 🌧

Saturday: 21 🌡️ 14 | 🌤

Sunday: 28 🌡️ 16 | ☀️

Monday: 29 🌡️ 16 | 🌤

ENVIRONMENT

Air quality down, fires up

What happened: The rest of North America is finally dealing with what Vancouver has dealt with for years — Blade Runner-style smoke-filled skies and dangerous air quality. Unfortunately, Vancouver is also dealing with it this week.

Wednesday, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley were under an air quality advisory, due to smoke coming in from fires at Harrison Lake, according to CityNews. The advisory is expected to continue, as smoke and hot weather conditions create higher concentrations of the dangerous fine particles in the air.

It’s recommended you avoid physical activity. As of yesterday afternoon, according to Metro Vancouver, the air quality is at a three out of ten, which is considered low risk. It’s expected to continue into today.

• According to IQAir, while the air quality index is good, there is 1.4 times the number of fine particles in the air above the recommended WHO air quality value.

No BBQ for you: Vancouver announced a ban on BBQs, smoking and open fires on beaches, but there are no fines for breaking the rules, according to Vancouver is Awesome.

Around B.C.: There are upwards of 80 fires burning as of Wednesday afternoon, with smoky skies in Fort Nelson and Inland Vancouver Island, which is experiencing five fires, one of which cut off access to Tofino, according to CBC.

Oh my goodness: The Donnie Creek wildfire in Northern BC is the second largest in B.C. history, according to CBC. The fire has burned 3,108 square kilometres. How big is that? The area burned is larger than all of Metro Vancouver… All the fires so far this year have burned more area than all the fires in 2022.

The Vancouver Sun has put together a helpful map to show fire locations and air quality around the province.

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

👎 24: The number of the 50 biggest cities in Canada with an average home price above $1 million. [Urbanized]

📈 $5 million: The price per acre for industrial land in Vancouver. This is the highest in Canada. [Business in Vancouver]

4.75: The Bank of Canada raised its overnight interest rate by 25 basis points to this level as inflation persists. Inflation increased in April to 4.4 percent, well above the Bank’s target of two percent. The Bank wants to target “corporate pricing behaviour” which many argue is a major cause of current inflation. [BNN-Bloomberg]

FOOD + DRINK

Vancouver breweries win big at awards show

The Canadian Brewing Awards are another reminder that Vancouver is a great beer destination, not that the city didn’t already know that already…

What happened: Vancouver, and Metro Vancouver breweries in general, took home numerous gold medal awards from this year’s Canadian Brewing Awards held in Halifax, according to CTV. B.C. won gold in 16 categories.

Breaking it down: Here’s a list of the Vancouver breweries that won:

• 33 Acres Brewing Company — Belgian-Style Tripel, 33 Acres of Euphoria

• Bomber Brewing — North American Style Amber/Red Ale, Georgie's Best Dry Hopped ESB

• Parallel 49 Brewing — Belgian-Style Brett Beer, 10th Anniversary Brett Saison

• Powell Street Craft Brewery — North American Style Amber/Dark Lager, Dancing In the Dark Lager

• Powell Street Craft Brewery — American Style Imperial India Pale Ale, Party Time!! 10th Anniversary DIPA

Breweries in Metro Vancouver that won included Camp Beer Co., Parallel 49 Brewing, La Cerveceria Astilleros and Smugglers Trail Caskworks. B.C. took home 45 gold, silver or bronze awards.

CITY HALL

Luxury condo developer asks for tax payment delay

What happened: Large Vancouver property developer Anthem Properties is asking the city for a delay in paying $10 million in taxes it owes, according to the Vancouver Sun.

• The property location is a high-value target, at the former Chevron gas station on West Georgia close to Stanley Park. The development is entirely luxury condos, according to Urbanized.

The fees are tied to the community amenity contribution (CAC), which helps pay for improving the area, including affordable housing, facilities and things like childcare.

Zoom in: According to Urbanized, city council has prioritized luxury condos in the West End to fund more CACs to fund the West End Plan’s public benefits strategy. The plan includes major developments like a new community centre

State of play: City staff are recommending council approve the payment delay, saying “accepting the modification would support the timely delivery of housing while ensuring satisfactory payment of the (contribution’s) outstanding balance.”

• A Vancouver property developer told the Sun that this type of deferral isn’t out of the ordinary. As market conditions change, developers return to council with changes to their existing plans.

Zoom out: City council has taken a, shall we say, more favourable approach to dealing with developers. Last month council voted to refund millions in city taxes owed by developers as part of changes to the Empty Homes Tax, according to Global.

What it means: The turbulence facing Anthem Properties could foreshadow future similar demands, as rising interest rates and increasing costs put pressure on developers. Of course, these developers are in for a sizable payday when the project does go through…

To be slightly contrarian, would Anthem extend this type of deferral to renters or anyone purchasing a home?

• Council will decide on the tax delay next week.

THE AGENDA

🎤️ A group called the Vancouver Tenants Union derailed an announcement by the BC Minister of Housing to protest demovictions of buildings near the Broadway subway line. The group says people could face upwards of $800 in rental increases in the new building. The Minister responded saying Vancouver needs more housing, including more affordable options that would be built at the site. [CTV]

⚽ Congrats to the Whitecaps! The team won back-to-back ConChamp titles by beating CF Montreal 2-1. [The Province]

🚨 Street Gang Zone 43 from Montreal is operating out of the Downtown Eastside. The group was linked to a shooting in June in the area. Police won’t say if there are any active investigations into the group. [Vancouver Sun]

❌ VSB staff are recommending that Sir Guy Carleton Elementary School, open since 1896, be permanently closed. The school was temporarily closed in 2016 after a fire and has not yet reopened. [CBC]

🏥 The B.C. government announced they are expanding services at the troubled Surrey Memorial Hospital, which has been dealing with massive waitlists and reduced staff. The changes include new contracts for hospitalists and more staff hiring in key departments. [CBC]

☕️ Even after a fire forced their business to shut down, Ovaltine Cafe owners are committed to reopening. The cafe is one of the few affordable food options in the neighbourhood. [CBC]

🔥 Vancouver Fire Services dealt with multiple fires in the Downtown Eastside on Wednesday, in garbage cans and dumpsters. [Twitter]

WEEKEND GUIDE

Italian Day | Commercial Drive | Sunday | More than 160 participating businesses, with music, family activities and of course, Italian food | Free

Aburi Market One Year Anniversary | 1350 Marine Dr. | Saturday, 12 pm | Free tasting and ramen bowls, come celebrate their anniversary with food and fun | Free

Secret Food Tour | 207 West Hastings St. | Saturday, 11 am | Enjoy the city’s best food shops, with sushi, porchetta and much more! | Starting at $40 

Brent Gardens Complex Yard Sale | 4353 Halifax St. | Saturday, 10 am | Lots of items for sale, who knows, maybe you’ll find that thing you’ve been looking for | Free

Alien/Aliens | Rio Theatre | Saturday, 8;15 pm | A double-feature of one of the greatest sci fi movie(s) ever made | Tickets $11.42

Anyone Can Paint with Ronn Martin | Pacific Arts Market | Saturdays, 5 pm | Two-hour paint course, even if you think you’re bad at painting, you can learn | Tickets $81

Glam-O-Rama Roller Disco | Rolla Skate Club | Saturday, 5 pm and 8 pm | Throwback tunes with a disco vibe, come roller skate your heart out | Tickets $15

Beautiful Carole King Musical | Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage | Now onwards | The story of the famous singer’s rise to fame, featuring classics from the artist | Tickets $43

A Summer’s Day Festival | Vault, 247 E 1st Ave. | Saturday, 2pm | Recurring summer festival, featuring ongoing lineup of DJs | Tickets $33.90

West End Farmers Market | 1100 Comox St. | Saturdays, 9 am | Meet local vendors, purchase food and goods, including cookies, bread, fruits and vegetables and more | Free

FOOD

Italian awards and the new Kent’s Kitchen

Vancouver may be far from Italy, but that didn’t stop the city from picking up some awards from the highly acclaimed publication Gambero Rosso’s Italian restaurant awards, according to Dished. The awards recognize places from around the world for their authentic Italian cuisine and dining experience.

• How they’re ranked: Awards are given on a scale of one to three, with three being the highest, using Forks, Bottles and Slice depending on the type.

Pizza: Via Tevere won one Slice for their authentic Italian Pizza. You can read a review about them at the Georgia Straight.

Wine: Cin Cin received two out of three Bottles for their wine service and L’Ufficio won two out of three Bottles for their wine bar.

• The Vancouver Sun says Cin Cin “shines” with “a blockbuster collection of Italian wines.”

Restaurants: Giardino Restaurant and La Quercia were awarded two Forks and Ask for Luigi received one. The top-rated spot in Vancouver? Naturally, Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill with Three Forks.

Snubs: Number one on Vancouver Magazine’s Top Italian Restaurants in 2023 Oca Pastifico did not make the list.

Openings

Kent’s Kitchen is dead, long live Tato’s Kitchen. Luckily the new restaurant is sticking to its affordable Chinese food roots. [Dished]

Unni Pastries is a Korean donut spot that’s opening up in Vancouver’s West End. [Noms]

Popular bakery — and one of my favourites — Beaucoup Bakery is opening up inside St. Regis Hotel. [Vancouver Sun]

News you can use

If you love gorging yourself on all-you-can-eat food, then this list has you covered. Restaurants listed include Bombay Kitchen, ARC Restaurant, Tandoori Flame and many others. [Dished]

If you love farmers’ markets, then B.C.’s Farmers’ Market Trail is the perfect place to visit, with numerous spots around Vancouver and B.C. to check out.

MEME

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Have friends visited this summer? Here’s a handy list of places to take them, many of which aren’t as well known. [Vancouver Sun]

• The dream of seeing Messi play in Vancouver is now closer to reality. [The Province]

• As a huge T&T fan, I’m happy to see them expanding to Bellevue, Washington. [Business in Vancouver]

• Whoever blew bubbles near the courthouses in downtown Vancouver really made everyone’s day. [Reddit]

• If you’re looking for buses with AC, here’s a handy list. [Reddit]

GAME TIME

Congrats to Sarah, John and Tyler who correctly guessed the VancouverGuesser spot was Commercial Skytrain station.

Don’t wait around for today’s Worlde — play it now.