Chinatowns controversial condo development prompts protest

Residents protested outside Vancouver's city hall on Monday against a controversial condo development in Chinatown, as the Vancouver Development Permit Board prepares for a crucial meeting. Protesters, including local worker Mark Lee, expressed fears that the project will exacerbate gentrification and raise rents for surrounding businesses. The proposal aims for a nine-story, mixed-use development at 570 Columbia Street, a site previously rejected in 2017. Following a lawsuit by developer Beedie, the project received approval in 2023 under revised recommendations. Lee criticized the renewed proposal as inadequate and unresponsive to community needs, noting, “We lose as the community; the city loses.

” Over 100 speakers registered to present their views at the upcoming hearing. Residents argue the development fails to offer tangible benefits and threatens local cultural heritage. As the VDPB prepares to hear community input, the outcome remains uncertain.