On May 19, 2017, the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods sent the following letter to Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vancouver City Council regarding concerns about the proposed rezoning for 105 Keefer St. and 544 Columbia St., in Chinatown.
This letter follows two prior letters, sent to Council on June 29, 2016, and again on February 26, 2017, regarding two earlier proposals for this same site. This third rezoning application is regrettably little changed from the original.
As explained in this latest letter, CVN recommends that City Council not approve the proposed rezoning application.
CVN encourages those who value the retention of Chinatown’s community and heritage to send a letter to the Mayor and Council using this handy email generator: http://savechinatownyvr.herokuapp.com/campaigns/oppose-105-keefer-rezoning.
CVN represents a united and diverse group of nearly 30 neighbourhood associations all across the City of Vancouver.
This letter is also available for download as a PDF (124kb):
CVN Letter to Council – Chinatown – 105 Keefer – May 19, 2017
May 19, 2017
City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillors,
Re: Public Hearing for 105 Keefer St. and 544 Columbia St., Chinatown
The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods joins the local community to
OPPOSE the above rezoning application. During consultation on this current application, 75% of the community has expressed their opposition. Please reject this proposal.The application has not been significantly changed to address community concerns and is essentially the same proposal that has been repeatedly opposed by the local community since 2014. A few more small tweaks do not make this proposal acceptable.
Please listen to the community requests for a much smaller scale project that minimizes the impacts on the Chinese Cultural Centre and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden across the street, with a design that fits into the heritage character of the heart of this historic Chinatown neighbourhood.
Sincerely,
Larry Benge, Chair
On behalf of the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods
Contact: info@coalitionvan.orgMember Groups of the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods
Arbutus Ridge Community Association
Arbutus Ridge/ Kerrisdale/ Shaughnessy Visions
Cedar Cottage Area Neighbours
Chinatown Action Group
Citygate Intertower Group
Community Association of New Yaletown
Crosstown Residents Association
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council
Dunbar Residents Association
False Creek Residents Association
Grandview Woodland Area Council
Granville Burrard Residents & Business Association
Joyce Area Residents Association
Kitsilano-Arbutus Residents Association
Kits Point Residents Association
Marpole Residents Coalition
Norquay Residents
NW Point Grey Home Owners Association
Oakridge Langara Area Residents
Ray-Cam
Residents Association Mount Pleasant
Riley Park/South Cambie Visions
Shaughnessy Heights Property Owners Association
Strathcona Residents Association
Upper Kitsilano Residents Association
West End Neighbours
West Kitsilano Residents Association
West Point Grey Residents Association
