ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 19, 1999
Author/Local: Nancy Hill/7305
RTS No. 01035

CC File No. 5802

CS&B: November 4, 1999

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services in consultation with the Director of Current Planning
SUBJECT:	Proposed Chinatown Pender Street Gate

CONSIDERATION

A. THAT Council support, in principle, the proposal to develop a Chinatown Gate over Pender Street, east of Taylor Street; and

B. THAT subject to confirming the design and implementation of the gate, public support, and federal and provincial commitments to funding, Council approve providing up to 1/3 of the cost of constructing the gate, to a maximum of $250,000; source of funds to be Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated - Beautification and Street Trees (30000131).

GENERAL MANAGERS’ COMMENTS

The General Manager of Engineering Services and the Director of Current Planning submit A and B for CONSIDERATION. It is noted that the City funding proposal deviates from standard beautification projects in that the normal two thirds property owners’ share may largely be funded by senior governments.

POLICY

There are no policies related to this project
PURPOSE

This report presents for Council’s consideration, approval in principle and financial support for a proposed Chinatown Gate on Pender Street just east of Taylor Street. Council’s support is required at this time in order to complete the applications for federal and provincial millennium grants.

BACKGROUND

There is a long history of building arches in the City of Vancouver to commemorate special events. On Pender Street, close to Carrall Street, an arch was built in 1912 to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Connaught. In 1936, an arch was constructed on the current site of the Chinese Cultural Centre to celebrate Vancouver’s Jubilee. More recently, about 10 years ago, the Chinatown Lions Club initiated a project to build a permanent arch across Pender Street. Despite considerable community support for this idea, there was insufficient funding and the project did not proceed. The arch in front of the Chinese Cultural Centre was built for Expo 86 and, although not intended to be a permanent arch, was re-installed in Chinatown when the fair ended.

At Chinatown Heritage Area Planning Committee’s (CHAPC) July 13, 1999 meeting, there was significant discussion around the idea of constructing a Chinatown Gate. CHAPC feels that the gate will attract people from the adjacent International Village development and elsewhere into historic Chinatown, thereby contributing to its cultural and economic activity. A gate project at this time would also highlight the approaching millennium. The approaching new millennium is generating enthusiasm for projects and offers funding opportunities (ie. provincial and federal millennium grants) that makes this project possible. The objectives for the gate as prepared by the chair of CHAPC are outlined in Appendix A.

On July 27, 1999 City Council approved THAT CHAPC pursue a design and public review of a gate proposal and that Engineering Services staff work with CHAPC on any engineering issues as needed.

DISCUSSION

Since Council was first presented with the Chinatown gate concept on July 27, 1999, CHAPC has taken a number of steps:

1) Formed a subcommittee to advance the Gate project, consisting of CHAPC members, City staff, and representatives of the larger associations within Chinatown, including: Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association; Chinese Cultural Centre; ChineseBenevolent Association of Vancouver; S.U.C.C.E.S.S.; Vancouver Economic Development Commission; Gastown representative; Henderson Development; and various members from within the Chinese community. Please see the attached letters of support for the Gate in Appendix B from many of these representatives.

2) Initiated applications in conjunction with the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission for three millennium fund grants (1 federal and 2 provincial) for a total request of $525,000.

3) Received two visits from Dr. David Lai, an authority on Chinese and Chinatown Gates and discussed issues related to history, symbolism, design, and process with him.

4) Received a measure of media support, as shown in Appendix C with favourable articles appearing in the Vancouver Courier, Ming Pao, the Langara Voice and a
prominent article in the Vancouver Sun, attesting to the excitement which the project has generated.

5) Developed preliminary design concepts, as shown in Appendix D

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The concept of a Chinese gateway is steeped in tradition, and would enhance the historic nature of Chinatown. The Pender Street Gate would be a symbol of our multicultural City, representing the comfort with which the Chinese community takes its place in the Canadian identity. The Chinese community in Vancouver is vibrant, prosperous and successful and at the same time maintains a distinct identity in its architecture, its way of doing business, the strength of its families, and the preservations of its language, traditions, and culture.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated budget for the gate is proposed to be between $700,000 and $900,000. Please see Appendix D for proposed sources of funds. The proposed City contribution could be up to $250,000 and would be provided from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated - Beautification and Street Trees account.

The proposed funding source is an account within the Engineering Department that is used for beautification projects. Specifically it funds beautification projects for installation of non-standard capital works within the street right-of-way. The City’s share of beautification projects is normally one-third with the property owners funding the remaining two-thirds. As a result, this proposal deviates from past arrangements in that the property owners share may be provided largely from senior government.

The beautification fund has helped support commercial area beautification throughout Vancouver for over 15 years. There have been few requests for this fund lately, and there are currently no other outstanding requests . It is anticipated that the City’s Community Visioning Program will require funds from this account in the future, and those expected funding requirements have been considered when determining the maximum $250,000 contribution to the gate.

Normally such issues as detailed design and estimate would have been resolved before asking Council for their support including financial support. Due to the timing of the provincial and federal millennium grant applications, support in principle, is requested at this time. Final funding approval would be contingent on a report back on the detailed design and estimate, public consultation results, confirmation of senior government funding, and resolution of construction, ownership, and maintenance issues.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Over the next few months, subject to confirmation of funding sources, City staff will pursue the following issues with the Gate Subcommittee:
1) Detailed design and estimate (within Appendix D are concepts developed by CHAPC to merely facilitate discussion)
2) Public consultation process (ensure that the project’s final design in supported by the community and is compatible with other Chinatown projects)
3) Construction coordination (determine who will coordinate)
4) Gate ownership and maintenance (determine who will own and maintain)

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed Chinatown Gate project holds considerable merit and initial public support is strong. The Chinatown Gate Subcommittee has the opportunity to apply to provincial and federal millennium grants but must do so quickly. This report seeks approval in principle for the City’s contribution for funding this project, subject to a report back confirming detailed design, costs, public support, implementation details, and senior government funding.

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APPENDIX D

Proposed Funding

Source	Amount
Federal Millennium Grant	maximum of 300,000
Provincial Millennium Grant	maximum of 200,000
City of Vancouver	up to 250,000
Provincial Heritage Grant	25,000
Private Donors	remainder
Total	900,000

ATTACHMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC COPY ARE AVAILABLE ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE

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