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Vancouver small businesses are about to get some tax relief

Plus, more late night drinking spots and why it's so hard to build in Vancouver

Good morning,

If you think Vancouver is an unfriendly dog city, Toronto tried to tell dog owners not to let their dogs bark in dog parks… Luckily it didn’t last long. I’ll state for the record this newsletter is extremely dog friendly and welcomes all barking.

In today’s edition, we’ve got an example of how difficult it will be to solve Vancouver’s housing crisis, details about a new small business tax break, and a liquor policy that could expand late-night drinking spots.

Bark bark (that’s dog for “enjoy the newsletter”).

— Geoff Sharpe

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WEATHER

Friday: 8 🌡️ 3 | 🌧

Saturday: 8 🌡️ 3 | 🌧

Sunday: 10 🌡️ 6 | 🌧

Monday: 9 🌡️ 3 | 🌧

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🏠 $10.5 million: The price of a property listed for sale in Vancouver, where the seller has requested no showings of the inside of the house. Okay then. [CTV]

🚢 331: The expected number of cruise ships that will arrive in Vancouver in 2023, with an estimated 1.3 million passengers. This is a new record for ships visiting. [Urbanized]

DEVELOPMENT

Delayed development illustrates challenges to building in Vancouver

A new story about a delayed detox and social housing project sheds light on the challenges for building more housing and helping people who use drugs.

What happened: A city-owned property at East 1st Avenue between Clark Drive and McLean Drive, which is slated to house a detox and social housing project that was approved four years ago, is being held up by red tape, say stakeholders, according to Global.

  • It was the largest project of its kind when it was approved in 2019, with 97 affordable rental units and 51 in-patient treatment beds

Background: B.C. is dealing with a massive shortfall of treatment beds for people with substance use disorders. Only 36 treatment beds have been added in the last five years, with a total of 3,200 in the province, according to CTV. An all-party provincial committee tasked with looking into the overdose crisis recommended a significant increase in treatment centres and outpatient services, according to Global.

The problem: Construction was set to begin in 2020, but according to Global, BC Housing is still waiting on permits from the city.

  • “​​Due to these lengthy delays, the application could not be approved under the 2014 Vancouver Building Bylaw (i.e. too much time passed between staff receiving this submission and the VBBL being updated) and required the design to be aligned with the current 2019 VBBL.”

Not great!

While new rental units are waiting to be built, Vancouver is dealing with ongoing problems with SROs.

What happened: Portland Hotel residents protested on Wednesday outside the PHS Community Services Society board office after dealing with five months of an elevator not working, according to CTV. The group is demanding compensation for the elevator shutdown, which affected all eight floors of the building.

Looking ahead: Premier David Eby promised to undertake a review of how SROs operate and promised a plan to phase them out, according to Global. An estimated 7,000 people live in 156 SRO buildings.

  • Descriptions of problems in these buildings paint a troubling picture, with basic services like plumbing barely functioning, among other issues.

Thought-bubble: It’s one thing to promise to fix broken housing, but as the situation with the detox and housing project above shows, it’s another to get them built. Promising to remove SROs, while also dealing with permit delays that hold up projects for four years… The B.C. government touted they’d built 1,400 supportive housing units in the past four years. These types of numbers are not nearly enough for the city.

TAXES

Vancouver small businesses are about to get some tax relief

Tax relief on its way? Yes, according to city council.

What happened: On Wednesday, council passed the Development Potential Relief Program (DPRP) which will provide businesses and community organizations with a reduction in taxes, according to CBC. It will start in the 2023 tax year.

  • 1,400 groups are expected to benefit, which will provide a 50 percent reduction in the tax rate on part of the land value tax.

How it works: Taxes are usually assessed on the development potential of properties, instead of what they’re actually used for. In Vancouver, where property prices are high, this will provide businesses with substantial savings. According to city staff, the program will primarily help neighbourhood retail spaces.

  • It’s the first program like it in B.C. and will be funded through increasing tax rates for light industry and businesses such as warehousing, hotels, and offices.

Yes, but: The property tax reduction comes as council voted to increase taxes by 10.7 percent. Some business owners say it won’t actually be an overall reduction in taxes.

THE AGENDA

🚓 A series of assaults Wednesday night at Carrall and Hastings Streets are being investigated by police. There are no details on injuries or the number of people involved or affected. [Global]

☀️ Rain city? More like dry city. This summer is expected to be dry and hot. In some cases, the temperature may approach 37 degrees. [Daily Hive]

🙋Beginning on Tuesday night and ending Wednesday, over 1,000 volunteers spread out across Metro Vancouver to undertake the homeless count for the first time in three years. It helps the region understand the scale of homelessness and its causes. [CityNews]

🔢 Advocates are raising concerns about poor communication between the City and warming centres. Notice of opening comes mid-afternoon, no matter the weather warning beforehand. Letting individuals know the warming centres are open is also a challenge. [Georgia Straight]

🛍️ The city is seeking to move the Downtown Eastside Market to a new site at East Hastings Street between Columbia Street and Main Street. Located at 123 East Hastings Street, the building currently there would need to be demolished. The move is expected to be completed by Sept. 1. [Urbanized]

👨‍⚕️ A family doctor in Vancouver is shutting down his clinic even though the province brought in new compensation changes. He says the difference in being a specialist means it’s far less lucrative to be a family doctor. [CityNews]

🏢 A duplex built in 1920 at 3629 Fraser Street will be redeveloped into a childcare facility for 25 children. [Urbanized]

FOOD

Donuts and tacos, bodega sandwiches and top new restaurants

Reviews

Baccus Restaurant, 845 Hornby Street: While chef Rob Feenie may no longer be there, his famous approach to ravioli will not disappoint and is not going anywhere. [Vancouver Sun]

Restaurant openings and closings

Lee Donuts: A new location is opening up in North Vancouver near Moodyville. [North Shore News]

Chancho Totilleria: The popular taco place (trust me, it’s great) is moving to 2096 Commercial Drive with an expected opening date of April. [Scout Magazine]

NYC bodega sandwiches called Chopped Cheese are coming to The American courtesy of Downlow Burgers. [Dished]

Wa! Curry, 622 West Pender Street: Wagyu beef and curries will grace the menu at this new spot from Aburi Restaurants. [Scout Magazine]

News you can use

Learn a little more about Flourist co-founders Shira McDermott and Janna Bishop, including the culture of their company, how they work together and advice for other business partners. [Scout Magazine]

So what are the top new restaurants? Vignette, Tatchan Noodle and other spots made the list. [Dished]

NEWS

More late-night drinking spots?

Your favourite restaurant could be about to turn into your favourite bar.

What happened: The trend of liberalizing Vancouver’s liquor laws is set to expand even further as council weighs whether to allow dual license establishments in the city, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Background: B.C.’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulations Branch allows food-primary businesses to apply for liquor-primary licenses at the same business location. Currently none have been approved, but that could soon change. And, of course, this is a common policy in other major cities (come on Vancouver!).

  • Part of the change reflects people’s desires to go to smaller lounges rather than clubs.

The changes could pick up steam quickly. According to the Vancouver Sun, there are 14 other restaurants that are interested in dual licenses.

This follows a trend of the current council seeking to make Vancouver a more enjoyable city, including making summer patios permanent. The trend is part of a major promise by Mayor Sim in his first annual “State of the City” address to make the city more fun, according to Urbanized.

WEEKEND EVENTS

Studio Ghibli Forever! (part 1) | VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre | Various times, March 13-25 | See a variety of Studio Ghibli classics spanning, 1984-1999, with showings dubbed in English and in the original Japanese with English subtitles | $19 per show, with discounts for seniors and students.

As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic | The Polygon Gallery | Feb 24 - May 14, with guided tours on Saturdays | A photography exhibit by Black artists showcasing experiences in Black life | Admission by donation.

The Oscars! Screening & Party | The Rio Theatre | Sunday, doors at 3:30 pm | The Rio Theatre‘s annual Oscar party | $14 in advance, $16 at the door (and the Rio recommends buying tickets EARLY)

Vancouver Regional Pokemon Championships | Vancouver Convention Centre East | Saturday and Sunday | Two days of playing and watching Pokemon | Spectator passes are $5 USD.

Bite of Burnaby | Various Burnaby restaurants | until March 31 | Burnaby’s premier food festival | Menu options ranging from $10 - $60.

Natural Remedies Workshop | Coquitlam Heritage at Mackin House | Saturday, 1 - 3 pm | In the heart of cold and flu season learn to make natural remedies to ease congestion and discomfort | $40.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Where’s the cheapest neighbourhood to rent in Vancouver? Killarney is the most “affordable” and the least affordable is the West End. But trust us, nothing is affordable. [Vancouver is Awesome]

  • This penthouse cost $19 million and it’s breaking records. [Vancouver Sun]

  • Apparently, it’s illegal to leave your dog tied up outside. One company has a plan to fix that with smart dog kennels. [Vancouver is Awesome]

  • Two window washers were trapped as their platform froze. Luckily they were rescued. [Global]

PHOTO OF THE DAY
Bridge

Reddit/hejournaloflosttime

Quite the winter shot of the Lions Gate Bridge! Thanks to user hejournaloflosttime for this beautiful shot.

GAME TIME
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