Second time lucky? Input sought for controversial Beedie proposal for lot in Vancouver’s Chinatown

The City of Vancouver’s development permit board on May 29 will reconsider Beedie Living’s application for 105 Keefer St. in Chinatown and is seeking public comments until then.

Beedie’s newest application is similar to the one for a nine-storey condo building that was rejected in 2017 by the board, which said it did not fit the context of the neighbourhood.

“I do feel like it is rather audacious given the community mobilization in response to Beedie’s proposal the last round,” said urban planner and University of B.C. academic Louisa-May Khoo.

Khoo recently authored a report, backed by the city and the province, that proposes addressing a dire shortfall of thousands of units for culturally appropriate seniors housing in Chinatown by identifying and repurposing sites in the area.

She said after the report’s release in January, the city has been consulting with the community in Chinatown and discussions have also included B.C. housing minister Ravi Kahlon and Lisa Helps, Premier David Eby’s housing solutions adviser.