Feds Inject $1.8M to Beautify Vancouver's Chinatown

When will the crowds return to Chinatown, not just for CNY?

After Vancouver's mayor announced the city will spend CAD$2.1 million to clean up Chinatown, which has deteriorated in recent years with vandalism, graffiti and homeless people as well as drug addicts hanging out in front of businesses, the federal government is pitching in to beautify the neighbourhood.

Today Harjit Saijan, minister responsible for the Pacific economic development agency of Canada pledged CAD$1.8 million to fix up shop fronts with signage and awnings, add planters and flower boxes, install energy-efficient lighting, and modernise buildings such as the Chinese Cultural Centre, The Chinatown Storytelling Centre and Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Gardens.

Lee (left) talks to Saijan at announcement today

About CAD$500,000 of the money will also be plowed into the Light Up Chinatown festival held in September that will bring 50 new jobs. 

Carol Lee, chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, says the federal funding marks a "turning point for the neighbourhood," but notes that though it is a step in the right direction, it is "not the solution."

"There has been a significant increase in graffiti and vandalism, a steep rise in anti-Asian racism, random attacks on our seniors, [and] a rise in property crime, which has made Chinatown a place that people no longer feel safe to come to," Lee said.

She added the financial injection by the federal and municipal governments provide the basis for a "renewed economic vitality,"

The foundation applied for and was granted the funding through the federal government's PacifiCan Tourism Fund, which launched in the summer of 2021 and provides CAD$500 million over two years to help tourism businesses and organisations.

Liu hopes more will be done to help Chinatown

For William Liu of Kam Wai Dim Sum, the help can't come soon enough. "We are struggling and fighting for our lives," he says. 

"I understand the direction they are going, but it's just not enough for us. We really need a lot more support at this point. There are still a lot of people living on the streets that we really need help with."

Joey Wong of Dollar Meat Store, which has been around for over 50 years, echoes in agreement. "We do need a lot more help in say helping the legacy businesses, or even opening up new shops in Chinatown."

While these businesses appreciate the governments' help, they hope it's just the beginning of Chinatown's revival.

Although it's good to get the money to clean up the neighbourhood and beautify it, what about tackling the real issue next door in the Downtown Eastside -- the homeless and drug addiction issue that's spilling over into Chinatown?

Graffiti is one of several issues in Chinatown

Who is going to roll up their sleeves and really fix this problem that has been left to fester for decades with more and more dangerous drugs like opioids?

Until that happens, Chinatown will continue to be subjected to vandalism, crime, graffiti, while faeces, urine and dirty needles are strewn on sidewalks despite the regular cleanups. New planters, signage and awnings are just going to be destroyed over and over again.

Vancouver Moves Forward on Chinatown Action Plan

Chinatown tries hard to fight back against graffiti to no avail

When Ken Sim was overwhelmingly voted as Mayor of Vancouver, one of his campaign promises was to fix up the situation in Chinatown. 

The neighbourhood is in a sad state, with homeless people and drug addicts sprawled on sidewalks, and numerous cases of petty theft, vandalism and graffiti. It's not just visually unappealing but also the putrid smells of garbage littered everywhere along with feces and urine.

Today Vancouver City Council unanimously approved the "Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan" which is an extensive list of things that will be done to literally clean up the area.

Mayor Sim promises action to clean up the area

"Chinatown is an invaluable part of our city -- a much beloved community that celebrates Vancouver's diversity and cultural heritage," says Sim. 

"Chinatown holds an important place in the hearts of many. Today, with the passage of the Uplifting Chinatown Plan, we are excited to be taking the next step towards the revitalisation and renewal of this vital part of our city," Sim is quoted as saying in the press release.

It does not mention a price tag, but the media reports it could cost around CAD$2.1 million.

The long list of actions are pretty impressive, made to look like a marked improvement from the previous municipal administration.

Initiatives include a "safewalk program" for seniors and residents in Chinatown to get home safely; 24/7 access to a public washroom at Main and Hastings streets; 15 new larger-capacity public waste bins; continuation of CAD$500,000 in graffiti prevention and abatement grants to business improvement associations; additional funding for free paint and graffiti removal on upper facades and heritage buildings; and funding for the Chinese Community Policing Centre.

What about tackling the issue on Hastings Street?

There's also the "proactive feces collection" five days a week -- what does "proactive" mean? The press release points out it was only once a week before -- but why not seven? Do people not defecate the other two days?

While we really appreciate all these actions, they are just keeping Chinatown much cleaner. What about tackling the actual problem of drugs and homelessness a block away on Hastings Street? What is the action plan there? 

Business owners say the report break-ins and vandalism to the police, but they say the officers don't do much about it. 

If nothing is done to really deal with these problems, then the "Uplifting Chinatown Plan" will be a Sisyphean task.