Vancouver City Council |
CITY OF VANCOUVER
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date:
November 20, 2003
Author:
M. D'Agostini
Phone No.:
873-7716
RTS No.:
03717
CC File No.:
1611/8104
Meeting Date:
December 2, 2003
TO:
City Council
FROM:
Director of Current Planning and the Community Project Manager for the Downtown Eastside
SUBJECT:
Allocation of Capital Plan Funds in the Downtown Eastside
RECOMMENDATIONS
A. THAT Council approve the allocation of $248,000 as the City's contribution towards the revitalization projects described in this report; source of funds to be the 2003 Downtown Eastside Revitalization Capital Budget.
B. THAT Council approve a grant of $120,000 to the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden Society of Vancouver for development of an education/presentation centre; source of funds to be the 2003 Downtown Eastside Revitalization Capital Budget.
C. THAT the Electrical Operating Budget be increased by $8,300 per year beginning in 2004, subject to budget review, to cover additional energy and maintenance costs for lighting improvements in Gastown.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing noting that Recommendation B requires eight affirmative votes.
COUNCIL POLICY
On July 28, 1998, Council confirmed principles to provide general guidance to actions and planning in the Downtown Eastside, Chinatown, Gastown and Strathcona, which include encouraging legitimate commercial activity, improving conditions at the street level, improving existing SROs, reducing crime, and helping community people find allies and seek a common future.
On October 1, 2002, Council approved a funding allocation of $2.5 million toward Downtown Eastside revitalization initiatives in the 2003-2005 Capital Plan.
PURPOSE
This report seeks Council approval to allocate a total of $368,000 from the Downtown Eastside (DTES) Revitalization Capital Funds toward a number of projects to facilitate economic development in the area. Approval of the funding will secure an additional $986,000 from the Federal Government through Western Economic Diversification (WED), $30,000 from the Provincial Government, and $149,000 in community/business contributions.
BACKGROUND
The initiatives proposed for funding are being developed under the Vancouver Agreement (VA) which is a five-year agreement between Canada, the province of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver to work with the community and businesses in support of sustainable social and economic development. Its components include community health and safety, economic and social development, and community capacity building. The Vancouver Agreement intends to promote community economic development to bring back vitality and prosperity to the DTES.
In the past the Capital Plan funds have assisted in a number of projects including the redesign of Hastings and Main and the lighting of Victory Square Park. In these projects City funds were also used to leverage additional public and private sponsorship. The funds proposed in this report would result in public realm and streetscape improvements that would contribute directly to business enhancement.
DISCUSSION
Working with community leaders and colleagues from other levels of government, staff developed a list of projects for funding consistent with the objectives of the Vancouver Agreement and the emerging Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization Plan. A funding proposal has been submitted to Western Diversification Canada requesting $986,000 of federal funds to compliment City capital investment in the following projects:
· Victory Square Park Improvements - City Funding $60,000; WED Canada $200,000
This Victory Square project is the third phase of improvements after the installation of new lighting around the cenotaph in 2001-2002, and the park enhancements in 2002-2003. The Friends of Victory Square developed and strongly supported a Vision Plan for the Victory Square neighbourhood that upheld that a vibrant and active area would help create a healthier and safer community, creating a revitalized economy for businesses to grow. Finishing the upgrading of Victory Square Park is critical to support sustainable and/or renewed businesses within the area. The City portion will be used toward sidewalk upgrading and renovation and minor upgrade of the public washrooms. The portion from WED will be used to resurface the plaza surrounding the cenotaph, provide improved seating around the cenotaph and complete a wheelchair-accessible pathway. The Park Board approved the Victory Square Design Concept in April 2002.
· Sun Yat Sen Garden Education/Presentation Centre - City funding $120,000; WED Canada $350,000 (application in process)
In preparing for the future growth of the surrounding community and the revitalization of Chinatown, the Garden has embarked on a major facility expansion. The Sun Yat Sen Garden's $1.9 million Capital Enhancement Project will upgrade their present facilities as well as adding on new facilities to allow them to serve a much broader based community with many new programming opportunities. The Garden board of directors have raised $1 million through their own fund raising efforts. This request to the City is to assist in development of the Education/Presentation Centre. A ground breaking ceremony has been held and construction of the Centre is underway. When complete, the Centre will play a key role in furthering education and promotion of art, cultural, heritage initiatives. Furthermore, it can become the hub for community outreach involving the surrounding communities, schools, and heritage organizations. This also presents the City an opportunity to expand arts and cultural activities in Chinatown, as identified in the Chinatown Vision endorsed by City Council. The project is located on park land and was approved by the Park Board in January 2003. Approval of Recommendation B will provide support in the form of a grant to the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden Society towards completion of the Centre.
· Carrall Greenway Streetscape Improvements - City funding $50,000; WED Canada $35,000
Enhancing the public realm experience along the Carrall Greenway is a key City objective. This proposal would make funding available to support the clean up and general repair of buildings, sidewalks and street furniture at or adjacent to Pigeon Park. A number of these buildings are showing signs of neglect as they have had minimal or no maintenance and some have had alterations to storefronts that offer little interest to passers-by. This project would provide short-term opportunities to enhance the appearance of buildings, sidewalks and street furniture in advance of the Carrall Street Greenway improvements as well as individual building improvements anticipated to be made under the heritage incentives program.
Pigeon Park, located at Hastings and Carrall Streets, is identified as a key pedestrian linkage between Gastown, the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown. The existing furniture in Pigeon Park is worn, damaged and neglected. This proposal suggests replacing all of the existing benches in the park, refurbishing the Gastown style pedestrian lights and installing a new, more aesthetic drinking fountain. An upcoming report will seek formal approval by the Park Board for these changes at Pigeon Park. The park is a popular meeting place for local residents, and these improvements to the park and to adjacent buildings will enhance the enjoyment of the public realm and improve the appearance of the park, contributing substantially towards the revitalization of the Carrall Street Greenway.
· Gastown Lighting Improvement - City Funding $93,000; WED Canada $306,000
Lighting is an important element in upgrading the appearance of Gastown and attracting more residents, customers and tourists to use products and services from the area thereby improving business opportunities and expansion. This work would extend the Gastown lighting treatment on Cordova Street between Richards Street and Abbott Street and on Columbia Street between Alexander and Hastings Street.
· Strathcona Street Beautification - City Funding $20,000; WED Canada $25,000
The purpose of this project is to help initiate a street and vacant lot cleaning program in cooperation with a community based organization such as United We Can or the Life Skills Centre that would hire and train local residents. It would involve a clean up of empty lots and vacant buildings, the installation of a minimum 3 murals and the painting of lamp posts in the area.
· Chinatown Market Housing Study - City Funding $25,000; WED Canada $25,000
When approving the Chinatown Vision in 2002, Council also recommended that the issue of residential intensification be studied by staff in consultation with the community. Current work in this area includes the formation of a staff team to review the issue as well as the facilitation of a number of community meetings. These discussions have identified a number of challenges and suggestions to encourage more market housing.
This project would provide a detailed assessment of the viability of accommodating market housing in existing buildings. Many buildings in Chinatown are vacant, have under-utilized upper storeys, or are heritage buildings. The majority of the buildings are on lots with 25 or 50-foot frontage. A more thorough review of these buildings, and other housing opportunities, including issues of livability, type and size of units, financial viability and identification of any regulatory or policy areas for review would be completed. Architectural and economic consultants would be engaged to study and report on a range of typical sites in Chinatown.
The total City funding request is $368,000.
Other projects, including additional public realm enhancements, business improvements and business/community outreach, are proposed as part of a larger group of complementary economic revitalization initiatives in the DTES. These will be supported through an additional $420,000 from WED.
Approval of the City's contribution through Capital Plan funds will secure another $1.25 million from project partners including almost $1 million in total from WED.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Funding for these projects is available in the 2003 Capital Budget earmarked for Downtown Eastside Revitalization.
For the Gastown Lighting Improvements there will also be ongoing energy and maintenance costs which are estimated to be $8,300 per year. This report recommends approval of an increase to the Electrical Operating budget for these expenses. No additional costs are anticipated for the other projects.
CONCLUSION
Support for the economic development initiatives in the Downtown Eastside is an important part of facilitating revitalization of the area. This report proposes that Capital funds, identified specifically for use in this area, be approved by Council to support significant public realm improvements. Approval of the City's funding will lead to substantial financial contributions from Vancouver Agreement partners and the community. Jointly these funds will serve to enhance the Downtown Eastside for tourists, residents and businesses.
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