Because I鈥檓 a baseball guy, and it鈥檚 summer time, I鈥檒l begin with a quote popularized by the late, great Yogi Berra, who told reporters way back in 1973 to not be so fast in concluding his New York Mets were finished for the season.
鈥淚t ain鈥檛 over till it鈥檚 over.鈥�
Turns out, he was right: The Mets rallied and went on to knock off the Cincinnati Reds to win the National League pennant. Atta-boy, Yogi!
I could be wrong, and haven鈥檛 had time to check the archives, but I don鈥檛 believe Yogi ever visited Vancouver鈥檚 Chinatown. I could make something up and say he did and taught kids how to hit a curve ball in a vacant lot at Keefer and Columbia streets, but that would be fiction.
Yogi again: 鈥淭ake it with a grin of salt.鈥�
It was Yogi鈥檚 鈥渋t ain鈥檛 over鈥� quote that came to mind July 14 when I received a news release from developer Beedie Living regarding its property at 105 Keefer St.
As , that鈥檚 the property on which Beedie planned to build a 12-storey condo. City council to reject the proposal, which called for 106 market apartments, 25 apartments for seniors, a recreational and cultural space and room for business on the ground floor.
There were victory hoots, tears of joy and a big celebration by all who opposed the project. Many in the lobby of the council chambers that day proclaimed victory.
贰虫肠别辫迟鈥�
Beedie鈥檚 proposal went before council because the building鈥檚 proposed height of 118 feet required that it undergo a rezoning, and subsequent public hearing.
Now Beedie has revised its proposal, keeping the height at 90 feet. That means it鈥檚 now in the hands of the city鈥檚 four-member development permit board, which is comprised of senior staff. Council does not have a say this time.
I tried to get a look at the revised proposal, but the developer wasn鈥檛 available and the city said to check back next week. Beedie鈥檚 release does not say how many apartments are proposed, or whether any will be 鈥渁ffordable鈥� or subsidized by B.C. Housing.
The developer, however, does say it will provide 鈥渋mportant subsidized cultural ground-floor space and increased pedestrianization of the Chinatown Memorial Plaza that can marry the cultural, retail and public realm.鈥�
The design on the exterior of the building will also get a do-over 鈥渢o ensure that the character of the building is reflective of its context and rich heritage in the area.鈥�
As expected, all those people in celebration mode last month are upset that Beedie hasn鈥檛 backed down and worked out a land swap or sale with the city and other governments.
Jannie Leung, a community organizer with the Chinatown Action Group, is among those calling for 鈥�100 per cent social housing鈥� and community space on the property.
鈥淥f the hundreds of people who went to city hall [for the hearings], we made it pretty clear that there鈥檚 a housing crisis in the neighbourhood,鈥� said Leung, whose group worked with the Chinatown Concern Group to launch a website July 16 that outlines their vision for Chinatown. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need more expensive condos.鈥�
Vision 麻豆传媒映画Coun. Kerry Jang, who voted in June against the original proposal, said he understands opponents鈥� concerns. But, he pointed out, the property is not for sale.
鈥淵ou can offer them a trillion dollars and they won鈥檛 take it because Beedie is committed to this project,鈥� Jang said.
No date has been set when the development permit board will have a look at the proposal. The process allows input from the public. How this will turn out is tough to predict.
As Yogi once said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to make predictions, especially about the future.鈥�
@Howellings
