In 1911 the Lee Building must have appeared a monolithic example of urban progress in what was then a backwater town on the banks of a muddy inlet.
One hundred years later, the seven-storey building near Main and Broadway seems quaint in comparison to the skyward-reaching glass spindles of Yaletown and downtown, visible to Mount Pleasant residents from their hilltop community.
With a development proposal for a 19-storey Yaletown-style tower proposed for a site about a block away from the Lee, which still reigns as the areas tallest building, some residents are aligning to make development in the neighbourhood an election issue.
The Residents Association of Mount Pleasant (RAMP) formed roughly six months ago in response to the city-led spot rezonings that have spurred the creation of community groups in other parts of the city, such as West End Neighbours. RAMP is holding an all-candidates debate on Oct. 26 on the issue of development and neighbourhood plans.
Member Grace MacKenzie says her vote in the November 19 election will depend on what candidates have to say in the meeting about balancing community interests with development proposals.
MacKenzie feels the current city council does not have residents interests at heart when it comes to development.
Were baffled, says MacKenzie, who took part in drafting the Mount Pleasant Community Plan that was submitted to council last November.
Participants in that process were united on many fronts about the future of the neighbourhood, but acceptable building height was and remains a contentious issue.
While the community plan called for some height above the general restriction of six-storeys to go in at key density points, MacKenzie says many were appalled to learn of a 26-storey tower proposed for the corner of Kingsway and Broadway under the citys Short Term Incentives for Rental (STIR) program.
Community outcry has since seen developer Rize Alliance decrease the height by seven storeys, but also reduce the number of rental units from 62 to 20 while increasing the number of market condos.
Even in its lower form, RAMP members feel such a building would decimate neighbourhood character and raise property assessments which would in turn lead to higher rents for the moderate- to low-income neighbourhood.
This is the thin edge of the wedge, says member Stephen Bohus, who has spent the last two years following the development proposal. Bohus accuses both the Vision Vancouver-dominated current city council and the NPA-dominated council before it of ignoring community feedback to appease development interests.
Bohus pointed to results of a city-led survey on the Rize Alliance development held in April. More than 90 per cent of respondents did not think the proposed tower height was reasonable and more than 70 per cent suggest the building height be limited to between six and 12 storeys.
Given those results, Bohus says its inexcusable that the city seems to be continuing with the development as planned. They tell us theres a silent majority that supports the project. We havent seen them.
Bohus insists he and his RAMP cohort are neither anti-development nor anti-density, but its crucial developers and city planners find a way to add density to the neighbourhood while maintaining its character.
We have to change, but we have to respect our community, he says.
Candidates looking to win his vote in the upcoming election will have to outline clear ways they intend to do that.
And members of the so-called silent majority will have their chance to speak up on Oct. 26.
The Residents Association Mount Pleasant all-candidates meeting takes place Oct. 26 from 6:45-9:30pm at Heritage Hall (3102 Main). A follow-up meeting for Mt. Pleasant residents will be held Nov. 2 at St. Patricks (2881 Main). Info: RampVancouver.com
