Is Vancouver's Chinatown world-class?

A Vancouver heritage advocate wants to have Chinatown declared a UNESCO world heritage site. In an interview with the Georgia Straight at Floata Seafood Restaurant, Fred Mah said the first step is to have Chinatown designated a national historic site. It can only go before the UNESCO with the support of three federal ministries: Canadian Heritage, Environment Canada, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

“What we’re hoping is a national heritage site would be declared before the Olympics,” Mah said. “The next stage is we’ll push for UN status.”

He said he got the idea after seeing federal government ads in National Geographic for the Historic District of Old Quebec, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Mah noted that after Joggins Fossil Cliffs in Nova Scotia achieved a similar designation last year, the area was overrun with tourists. He added that tourism increased threefold in Kaiping, China, after its historic area was also commemorated in this way.

“If Quebec can do it, why can’t we do it?” he asked. “You know, if Kaiping can do it, why can’t we do it?”

Today (May 21), Vancouver city council’s city services and budgets committee is expected to vote on a staff recommendation to allocate $500,000 from the 2009 capital budget to enhance historic buildings in Chinatown. If approved, the money would be parcelled out in five $100,000 grants to Chinatown societies to help them rehabilitate historic buildings. This comes after a similar program last year, which also awarded $500,000 in five grants.

“To receive the grant, each Society will be required to commit a minimum of $20,000 to the rehabilitation plan costs,” a staff report states.

The dream of having Chinatown declared a UNESCO world heritage site has been put forward as the city is considering the possibility of allowing towers in Chinatown. The city has identified four “special sites” where towers could be built up to 91.5 metres in height. One of the locations is 8 East Pender Street beside the Chinese Cultural Centre and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. The other locations are at 105 Keefer Street, 21 West Pender Street, and 300 West Hastings Street.

Mah, president of the Chinatown Society Heritage Buildings Association, said he vehemently opposes having a tower beside the Chinese Cultural Centre. He added that the facility was founded by Chinese organizations in Chinatown.

“If they allow that—if somebody is going to build that—then first, they have to destroy the Chinese Cultural Centre,” Mah claimed. “There are about 2,000 to 3,000 students taking Chinese on the weekend. For the next three or four years, where are those students going to go?”

Jessica Chen, a senior city planner, told the Straight in a phone interview that staff have proposed a “framework for discussion”, and there is no “proposal” for towers in Chinatown. The city is in the midst of a Historic Area Height Review, which includes three options: no change to current zoning; a moderate increase; and identifying special sites that would be eligible for tall buildings at four locations.

“People are worried that this is actually a proposal to recommend to council,” Chen said. “I’ve been letting people know that, ”˜No, this is really a beginning of a dialogue.’ ”

Chen said that staff will report back to council in the fall after hearing input from the public. “The general feedback that we’re getting is very interesting—very sophisticated feedback,” she said.

Mah said that building towers in Chinatown doesn’t guarantee there will be an increase in business in the area. He pointed out that the towers at CityGate have not contributed to any increase in retail business near Terminal Avenue and Main Street. He also said that towers in International Village have not resulted in a great deal of business inside the nearby shopping mall.

“I’m saying, there is no guarantee,” he said.