Chinatown Economic Revitalization Action Plan

The City been working with the community to revitalize Chinatown for many years. In 2010, City Council directed staff to undertake a new initiative to further support Chinatown:

THAT Council as a priority directs staff to report back on a Chinatown Economic Revitalization Plan with a focus on near term action strategies, building upon existing revitalization initiatives (Hastings Street Façade Program, Chinatown Awning Program, Heritage Incentive Program and various initiatives under “Great Beginnings”) and heritage values, to immediately support Chinatown.

THAT the resources and expertise of the Vancouver Economic Development Commission be engaged, in consultation with the Chinatown BIA, Chinatown Merchants Association and other expert organizations as needed, to support the creation of the Chinatown Economic Revitalization plan.

Development of the Chinatown Economic Revitalization Action Plan is now underway, with the following objectives guiding the work.

Plan Objectives:

Identify short- and medium-term economic revitalization actions that can be implemented within 1-2 years, with a particular focus on immediate actions for business retention, expansion and attraction.

Support the work of existing business organizations in promoting Chinatown.

Engage the community in the development and implementation of the Plan.

Generate a sense of excitement to better market Chinatown to customers and investors.

Developing the Action Plan

To assist in the development of the Action Plan, the City has retained a consultant to conduct research, consult with the community, and develop a prioritized list of actions and an implementation strategy. As part of this work, the consultants will undertake a business survey, and will conduct interviews and a public workshop to gather input on priority actions. In addition, an innovative online public discussion forum will be available where people can provide comments and suggest ideas.

Once a draft plan has been developed there will be further opportunities for public review and comment before the Plan is presented to City Council for consideration.

Ways to be Involved

PUBLIC WORKSHOP:

A Public Workshop was held on June 29, 2011, to launch the Action Plan development process, and to seek input from local residents, businesses and the public.

View the information flyer (1.10mb)(in English and Chinese)

View the presentation: English (607kb) | Chinese (635kb)

If you were not able to attend the Public Workshop but would like to provide comments, please feel free to complete and submit a feedback form or participate in the on-line forum as outlined below. Details for submitting the feedback form are found at the bottom of the final page.

Download the feedback form (Bilingual) (99kb)

Your feedback is welcome at any time, however in order to best inform the draft Action Plan please submit comments by July 15, 2011.

PARTICIPATE IN THE ONLINE FORUM:

Join the discussion to help us preserve Chinatown’s heritage and also bring new life into the community by getting involved in the development and implementation of the Action Plan. Provide feedback and share ideas in the discussion forum. Please note that a quick registration is required and the discussion forum is open until July 15th to allow us to collate the responses.

ATTEND A FUTURE CONSULTATION EVENT:

Additional public consultation events will be scheduled once the draft Action Plan has been prepared.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAILING LIST:

If you would like to receive future updates on the Chinatown Economic Revitalization Action Plan, please join our email list.

SEND US YOUR COMMENTS

Mailing Address: City of Vancouver, Central Area Planning, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Y 1V4
Fax: 604.871.6488
E-mail: chinatown@vancouver.ca

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact Us

Vancouver's Chinatown district is rich with culture and history and has played a key role in the shaping of Vancouver's cultural identity.

But the neighbourhood has also experienced many challenges over the years, including community conflicts, economic hardships, shifting population trends, and the decline of nearby areas.

Today, Chinatown is embarking on a new future, being led in part by the City of Vancouver's Chinatown Revitalization Program, which seeks to preserve Chinatown's unique heritage while bringing new life into the community. Watch a video about the Chinatown Revitalization Program.

Chinatown began to develop in the 1880s on the edges of False Creek around the intersection of Carrall and Pender Streets. The community was established and fostered by the many Chinese immigrants who moved to Vancouver -- years before the City's incorporation in 1886 - to work as labourers in local industries.

Chinatown became one of the city's earliest commercial and residential districts. In the 1950s a highway was proposed to run through the Chinatown area, but strong public outcry convinced government to abandon the project. In 1971, the provincial government designated both Gastown and Chinatown as historic districts.

While Chinatown is no longer the only Chinese community in the region, it remains home to the Chinese Cultural Centre, Museum and Archives and still has a strong identity that is evident in its community vision for the future.

In February 2009, the City of Vancouver and the community-based Proponent Group submitted a nomination package to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada for the consideration of Vancouver's Chinatown as a National Historic Site of Canada. The nomination is being reviewed by the Board assisted by research from Parks Canada. The Board makes its recommendation to the Minister of the Environment, who makes the final decision.
Read the nomination package (8.24mb)
Fact Sheet - English (58kb)
Fact Sheet - Chinese (120kb)

Learn more about Chinatown's history.
Learn more about the Chinatown Revitalization Program.
Take a virtual tour of Chinatown's attractions and heritage buildings.

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