SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 2
VLLC AGENDA
DECEMBER 7, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: November 16, 1995
Dept. File No.2176IC.COV
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Deputy Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 916-924 Granville Street - Vogue Theatre
Class 'E' Concert Hall
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
application by the Vogue Theatre Inc., for a Class 'E' Concert
Hall at 916-924 Granville Street, having considered the
support of residents and business operators of the community,
as determined by neighbourhood notification;
or
B. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch it does not support the
request by the Vogue Theatre Inc., for a Class 'E' Concert
Hall at 916-924 Granville Street, having considered community
opinion, as determined by neighbourhood notification.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the choice of
A or B for CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council Policy is to not require a referendum for full service hotels,
non-profit theatre groups or a major complex provided it is illustrated
that there is little or no community opposition as determined by the
neighbourhood notification.
That on an interim basis, no new liquor licenses or amendments to
existing licenses be permitted in the Downtown South area, except that
the Vogue Theatre be exempted from this policy.
PURPOSE
The Vogue Theatre Inc. is requesting a Council resolution endorsing the
request for a Class 'E' Concert Hall liquor license at 916-924 Granville
Street.
BACKGROUND
The Vogue Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,200, and the type of
entertainment provided will be films and concerts. Until now, this
facility has operated with Special Occasion Licenses for many of the
events. This application is for a Class 'E' Concert Hall license to
allow the sale of alcohol before and during intermissions of a
performance. The hours of operation would be according to the schedule
of events, but no earlier than 9:00 a.m., and no later than 2:00 a.m.,
over a maximum 14 hour period.
The Class 'E' liquor license previously restricted the sale of liquor to
beer, wine, cider and coolers. It should be noted that recent Liquor
Control and Licensing Branch amendments now permit the sale of all types
of liquor, including the use of reusable glassware.
The subject premises are located on the Granville Mall, and are in the
DD Downtown District (Appendix A). The adjacent portion of Granville
Mall is developed with entertainment uses, such as theatres, arcades,
retail stores and restaurants. The area to the south and east of the
subject premises is undergoing redevelopment to permit high density
residential uses.
Within the survey area is the Siesta Hotel, New Continental Hotel,
Brookland Court, Helmcken House and the Gresham Hotel, all subsidized
residential facilities. The closest B.C. Government liquor store is
located at 1120 Alberni Street.
Also within the survey area are three Class 'A' Pubs (699 seats), eight
Class 'A' Lounges (797) seats, ten Class 'C' Cabarets (2666 seats) and
approximately 28 licensed restaurants.
COMMENTS
The Police Department has no objection.
The Environmental Health Division has no objection.
The Planning Department has no additional comments.
The Office of Cultural Affairs supports this application.
The Manager of the Housing Centre notes there are two SRO hotels in the
same block as the theatre, which could be affected by this application -
the Siesta Hotel (with the Roxy Cabaret at grade) and the Gresham Hotel.
There could be increased street noise for the tenants, but this would be
tempered by the activities at the Vogue, which are films and concerts
rather than alcohol consumption only. The disruption to the tenants
must be weighed against other City objectives of revitalizing Theatre
Row and retaining heritage. The Housing Centre does not oppose the
application.
CONCLUSION
The Vogue Theatre is not operated by a non-profit cultural group and,
therefore, does not qualify for Council's policy of exemption from
referendum. In this case, the residential within the survey area is
limited to five subsidized facilities which will all be notified. It
therefore does not make sense to require a referendum at considerable
cost to the applicant and with questionable results, given the limited
residential component.
Staff are in support of this application, subject to the results of the
area notification. The Vogue Theatre is an important part of the
cultural component of the revitalization of Granville Street. Many of
the events already involve the sale of alcohol through Special Occasion
Licenses.
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