Concerns over Vancouver’s proposal to demolish heritage building for DTES street market – BC | 24CA News
There are renewed considerations a few proposal to demolish a greater than century-old Vancouver heritage constructing and use the empty lot to quickly relocate the Downtown Eastside Market, the place police allege some stolen items are being bought.
The City of Vancouver leases the present avenue market house at 26 East Hastings however the lease is ready to run out on the finish of August, and the owner, BC Housing, wants the location to finish repairs on adjoining buildings.
If accredited, the town’s plan for a brand new non permanent web site for the market would require the demolition of a privately-owned 122-year-old constructing throughout the road.
With its distinctive structure, 123 East Hastings is taken into account by many to be an essential piece of Vancouver’s historical past.
“There is nothing else like this in Vancouver,” heritage advisor Donald Luxton instructed Global News in an interview.
Luxton needs the town to rethink its proposal to tear down the two-storey heritage constructing to create a brief dwelling for the Downtown Eastside Market.
“It is truly the only real example of Art Nouveau architecture in Vancouver, possibly western Canada,” mentioned Luxton.
ABC Vancouver councillor Peter Meiszner, who mentioned he couldn’t converse additional on the difficulty presently, has expressed comparable considerations on social media.
“The proposed demolition of this historically significant building is one of several concerns I have about the proposed relocation of the DTES street market; the other being VPD data about the number of stolen goods reportedly sold at the existing market,” Meiszner mentioned in a March 15 tweet.
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A carpenter’s instruments have been stolen. He discovered them on the market at a Downtown Eastside market
The Vancouver Police Department mentioned there are official gross sales of second hand or salvaged gadgets on the market, however it additionally claims organized crime teams are utilizing the road venue to maneuver purloined merchandise.
“We know that there are some illegitimate goods being sold there, things that people have stolen to sell there and that’s what we want to work to get away from,” Const. Tania Visintin instructed Global News.
One avenue vendor, who recognized himself solely by the primary title pseudonym “Jack”, initially instructed Global News he didn’t know the place the Guess cologne & perfume he was promoting Sunday, had come from – however later mentioned he will get some merchandise on-line.
“Yeah Amazon, I have [the] receipt,” mentioned “Jack”, who mentioned he arrived in Canada as a refugee from Syria one 12 months in the past – and makes use of his earnings to feed his spouse and two youngsters.
Another feminine vendor, who didn’t need to be recognized, instructed Global News she didn’t know the place a number of containers of Tylenol she was promoting got here from.
A 2022 structural evaluate of the potential new avenue market web site at 123 East Hastings, commissioned by its proprietor Concord Pacific, discovered “the building has deteriorated to a state that it is in danger of flooring collapse or even building collapse, should a seismic event occur.”
Luxton mentioned he’s nicely conscious of the problems with some components of the constructing however on the very minimal, any growth ought to retain the façade.
The present proposal he mentioned, would give the personal proprietor a break.
“The city is allowing a developer to get a free pass and tear down a heritage building,” mentioned Luxton.
The City of Vancouver is accepting public enter on the event utility till March 30. A ultimate choice will likely be made by the director of planning.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
