A Vancouver development intends to honour the former black neighbourhood of Hogan’s Alley, where a young Jimi Hendrix may have practised his guitar licks.

“We would definitely like to see something that is going to recognize and commemorate the community’s presence there,” developer Kerry Bonnis told the Georgia Straight in a phone call Tuesday (January 24).

Bonnis and his brother Dino are partners in Bonnis Development Corporation, which plans to build a 15-storey condo building at the southern edge of Chinatown.

Hogan’s Alley, between Prior and Union streets, was known for food and music. “It’s sad that it’s gone,” Bonnis said about the predominantly black district that disappeared when the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts opened in 1972.

Subject for development are four properties at 728 to 796 Main Street.

These include the location of the Brickhouse Late Nite Bistro and Bar. According to Bonnis, the establishment may return after the project is finished.

South of the Brickhouse are two vacant lots, and the fourth is the Creekside Student Residence, which wraps around Union Street.

On the Union Street side was once the legendary Vie’s Chicken and Steak House. Hendrix’s grandmother Nora worked as a cook at Vie’s, and the future rock legend may have practised guitar there after hours when visiting from Seattle.

In 2014, Canada Post released a stamp with Nora Hendrix’s image to commemorate Hogan’s Alley.

The Creekside Student Residence will be demolished, and its 18 housing units will be replaced in the new development.

According to Bonnis, the new housing units will be given to the city: “This is a multimillion-dollar gift, and we think it’s great to give back to the community in this way and basically, you know, show that we’re building the community, not tearing it down.”

The Creekside hostel used to be owned by Vincent Fodera, who opened a Hendrix shrine at the back in the summer of 2009.

Fodera sold the property in 2015. He moved the contents of the shrine to the basement of his wife’s store on Homer Street to await a return to Union Street.

Fodera recalled an interview he had with the Straight in 2012 wherein he said that he would only sell to guys who would “build something for Jimi”.

In a new interview on January 23, Fodera said he’s glad that the Bonnis brothers intend to have a new shrine for Hendrix.

“This dream will come true,” Fodera told the Straight by phone.

For his part, Bonnis confirmed that a Hendrix shrine is part of the initial plans.

“One way or another, we’ll definitely like to somehow incorporate the building of the shrine back into the project,” Bonnis said.

In addition to photos and numerous pieces of memorabilia, Bonnis said a statue of the late rock god may be raised.

As a homage to Hogan’s Alley, Bonnis said that ground-level commercial spaces will be oriented on Union Street and the laneway.

The project is still in its pre-rezoning stage, and an application has yet to be filed with the City of Vancouver.