Beedie clears final hurdle on Vancouver Chinatown condo project

The city’s development permit board was unanimous Monday in approving a developer’s revised application to build a nine-storey 133-unit market condo building in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown. The board had previously given Beedie (Keefer Street) Holdings approval in principle in June 2023 to proceed with the project on a piece of vacant property it owns at the corner of Keefer and Columbia streets. That approval required Beedie to meet conditions related to design, including significantly reshaping the corner of the building, its facade and working with members of Chinatown’s design and art community on the project. The three-member development permit board comprised of senior city staff heard from dozens of residents over two meetings — the majority in opposition to the project — before explaining their support for the development. 'Raises many concerns' Matt Shillito, the city’s director of special projects, said he wanted to acknowledge the many residents who spoke “very passionately and eloquently” about Beedie’s project. More than 100 people registered to speak to the board. “I appreciate that it raises many concerns for a lot of people around affordability, gentrification, the relationship between the building and [Chinatown] Memorial Square and the very sensitive cultural context of the project,” said Shillito from the council chamber at city hall. But, he added, the board’s scope was limited to “the exclusions and the relaxations” of the revised design, rather than the overall principle of the development in terms of land use or housing tenure and affordability — or the overall form of the building. “I agree with the staff assessment that the revised design is an improvement on the one that the board considered in 2023,” he said, noting the addition of a courtyard with publicly accessible open space. “I think that some of the new features added to the design — the cupola, the articulated facade, the colonnade — are all thoughtful in the way they pick up on existing design features in Chinatown.” The fact that the Chinatown historic area planning committee unanimously approved the project was also “telling,” said Shillito in reaching his decision. 'Trust the professionals' Corrie Okell, the city’s general manager of development, buildings and licensing, used part of her closing remarks to address concerns raised by speakers over Beedie failing to meet a Jan. 15, 2024 deadline to satisfy conditions requested by the board in the 2023 decision. “Applicants may request an extension, which was done in this case, and this is a common practice and supported,” Okell said. “There's no requirement to submit a new application, as it is in response to the initial proposal.” Added Okell: “We as the board are here today to make a decision on the changes to the design to address the conditions requested as part of the 2023 [development permit] board. I feel that these conditions have been addressed with these minor relaxations, which I will support.” Lon LaClaire, the city’s general manager of engineering services, also commented on the passion of the speakers, many of whom had spoken at earlier council and development permit board meetings. LaClaire pointed out that veteran architect James Cheng had been hired by Beedie to improve the design of the project. “In terms of the architecture and the urban design, I actually trust the professionals in the room,” he said. “I believe the applicant has a great architect. I think he's particularly talented. In terms of the specifics that we're being asked for — the height, the density —again, I kind of trust everyone that said that those are supportable.” 'Accelerate gentrification' Prior to the board meeting, a coalition of Chinatown and Downtown Eastside residents rallied outside city hall in protest of the project — as they did Oct. 20 before the first meeting. The coalition issued a news release after the meeting to condemn the decision. “This decision marks a singularly appalling moment in Vancouver’s history as the city continues to serve elite developer interests, and continues to prioritize profit over people,” the coalition said. “This decision will exacerbate displacement and accelerate gentrification in a neighbourhood that is increasingly unlivable for low-income seniors and residents.” Beedie acquired the property in July 2013. It is adjacent to the Chinatown Memorial Plaza, which features a monument to Chinese railway workers and veterans. The city is currently finalizing a new design of the plaza to improve the public space. The company has taken several years to get to final approval, with it first being turned down in June 2017 by the Vision Vancouver-led council. Beedie later went to court where the company won the right to go before the development permit board this year. A timeline of the company’s battle to get final approval can be read here. X/@Howellings