Mount Pleasant's Unique Antique store needs a new home

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      The Unique Antique store in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant district needs a new home.

      The shop’s location is part of the five lots forming one full city block on Main Street between East 2nd and East 3rd avenues, which Aquilini Development wants to use for a 12-storey condo development.

      Store operator Randy Sowinski has run the establishment for about two years, although he reckons that it has sold antiques for a much longer time.

      “We may have to move out of downtown a little bit to find something affordable, because all of the new places are expensive now,” Sowinski told the Straight by phone.

      Sowinski wouldn’t reveal how much he pays for his lease except to say that he gets a discount.

      On Tuesday (November 24), city council will hold a public hearing on an application filed by Francl Architecture on behalf of Aquilini Development to rezone the entire block. The planned development includes 256 apartments, 30 of which will be turned over to the city and used as social housing for low- and moderate-income artists. Of the 226 market condos, more than half (145) will be one-bedroom units.

      The developer is also proposing to build 4,000 square feet of space for artist studios to be owned by the city, a public plaza, and retail spaces.

      The site currently has two commercial buildings and a mixed-use building that has 21 housing units being rented out for between $542 and $850 per month. A relocation plan is in place for its residents.

      Antique seller Sowinski thinks his store has until next spring or summer before everything gets torn down.

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