Are new developments an opportunity or a threat to Chinatown? Here's my attempt to explore both sides of this issue. Facebook Page for About Here: / abouthere
The fact that Lee wrote and played his own piano music for the backing of this video says a lot. Sheer quality, incorporating great production value, well thought-out & presented opinion, and interesting, engaging content. Good things all round.
i study at ubc for urban planning and i sweAR WHEN IM ABLE TO I WILL DO MY BEST TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS in a way that will make vancouver a more affordable thriving city thanks for making these videos i love them they keep me motivated to study
@RYG Ya. That's not representative of Canada. More representative of upper class/whiteness, therefore also colonialism, white supremacy, racism, classism, etc. NO THANKS! I can understand certain people may want to imagine that as representative of Canada though.
I was in San Franciso last summer and I was so impressed by their Chinatown. Even Victoria's Chinatown is better than ours. Both seemed to be a thriving tourist destinations (or at least not dying). Vancouver's Chinatown seems unsafe for the average tourist. There are drug addicts everywhere and it's very dirty. For example, the CIBC ATM branch on Keefer is very nasty and smells of urine. In order for the existing business to not just survive but thrive, Chinatown needs a major face lift and clean up while preserving as much as possible the distinct architecture. I really don't want it to turn into another Yaletown. BTW, keep up the great work ! excellent videos. I like the graphics you use.
A key for Vitoria was the 10 year property tax incentive for renovated buildings. There were a lot of empty second and third floors I guess. Not necessarily affordable but this allowed keeping the built form and some revitalization.
@Vital Mark No. That's not how supply and demand works. The prices stay high because the vacancy rate is practically zero. If you build more homes, especially smaller units-- that is, if the supply outpaces demand, the prices will drop. As it is landlords can charge practically whatever they want because the need is so great that people will pay it. Get to a %5 available vacancy rate and overnight they will have trouble finding renters at inflated prices. Then they will lower rent to fill the units. We must demand high density to make this happen. Outlaw single family only zoning. Push the city to approve new high density buildings. That's how we get affordable housing.
@@marcushenryweber1290 You're yelling into the wind Marcus. I've had dozens of conversations with Lefties. The all say building more units only raises the cost of rent. They say the developers aren't building enough units that junkies and alcoholics can afford. They also think concrete is prohibitively expensive. Right up there with platinum in terms of its cost.
@@drmodestoesq I don't see why you need to talk shit about "junkies" and "alcoholics" like they are the only working people. We need to build more units that working people can afford. High density, smaller units, with less focus on parking space. This is how Tokyo dealt with its housing cost crisis. Smaller units and lots of them.
@@marcushenryweber1290 There is a HUGE real vacancy rate. Real estate is being used for speculation and money laundering bought up often by very rich people or even speculation companies from the US or China who will never physically set foot in vancouver. As far as im concerned if a house is owned by some absentee speculator who wont live in it its vacant. >thats not how supply and demand works yeah no. Capitalism is like communism: looks great in theory but epicly fails in practice. especially when it comes to housing. Housing should be for people to live in not to be flipped like the stock market. Ban absentee ownership and start phasing out private landlords especially when it comes to those developer corporations whove had a huge hand in political corruption. The problem is not lack of supply but the fact that there is an "artificial" source of demand driven by people/companies who will not actually use the housing. Demand for housing needs to be limited to people who actually reside in the area who will actually use the housing to live in. We dont need to cram people into "commieblocks" so that the speculators can keep playing with the real estate as they please
This video has aged very well in that many of the current projects are exactly what everyone feared the most: Super-high-end luxury suites. Keefer Street, as is, is one of the prettiest streets in Vancouver at night. Along with much of the rest of China Town. The lanterns give off a really nice vibe; not the safest place to be obviously. The buildings can definitely be taller no doubt. But I really wish the Architects and city would work together to give the building facades, at least at street level. An architectural style either matching that of China Town or using other elements of Chinese and Asian architecture. I've seen this done successfully on other projects. I've also seen them preserve the existing façade on many buildings; 1209 Bidwell Street (at Bidwell and Davie) is one really good example. Taller towers will reduce the amount of daylight available and change the environment a little bit. That won't be so bad on really hot summer days. If the city could swing it in a way that entices the developers to build more social housing, that could create an overall net benefit. Also maybe stipulating that ground floor tenants, if they contribute to preserving the overall culture of Chinatown, are given some type of subsidy. Although that might invoke an argument of prejudice. I love China Town as is (and would have liked it even more in the '80's and '90's). It's not up to me to see where it goes of course. I wish all the best for the long term residents who made it so great and I hope they don't get unwillingly pushed out of their own neighbourhood which they built.
My dad has lots of memories of getting delicious food in Chinatown after a shift down at the Port. I used to work near Chinatown, and we'd get huge containers of food for cheap on Fridays
Council could consider requiring developers to maintain the cultural character of Chinatown in new buildings. ie colour , style, small commercial shops inviting to small businesses. Some small communities even require fastfood chains to match existing colours and building style. Great videos !
Chinatown is dying. As a Chinese, I won't really go to Chinatown (even though I used to live right next to Chinatown, near the Viaducts) when I can get Chinese goods in T&T (just next to Chinatown) or in Richmond. Most Chinese stores sold either souvenirs (for Tourists) or expensive goods (seafood delicacies, expensive herbs/teas) that the youngsters nowadays would not buy.
My Chinese or Chinese-Canadian friends told me this also. I'm not Chinese but my mum used to take us on the Kingsway bus from Burnaby. Chinatown was unforgettable, the colours, the foods, the fragrances, the crafts and art, and the artisans; the mystery and the unknowable, never quite within our reach.
I like how you've taken different perspectives with these new videos. Sick stuff mate! The video design is especially cool too. Reminds me of Vox videos. :)
The problem is simple: because all other neighborhoods don't allow for increased density all of that demand is being pushed to Chinatown which is kinda sad because it's a more characterful neighborhood than all of the others. The least they could've done is kept the same theme or integrated the old facades into the new buildings in a nice way.
The key question should be... will it still be Chinatown without Chinese people? I'm a CBC, so my parents brought me along when they used to go grocery shopping during the 80's and 90's. My grandparents used to work in the area and my parents when they first came to Canada. That being said, most people of my grandparents' generation are now either deceased or have moved out of the area because they can cash out by selling their nearby homes and/or it's not really safe. My parents rarely go to Chinatown for shopping as there are plethora of Asian grocery stores around town, whether chain places like T&T, Sungivens, or independent grocers like Kim's, Kingsway, Fujiya, etc., there isn't the need to go all the way to Chinatown, pay for parking, and praying your car doesn't get broken into, just to buy groceries. Most regular supermarkets (Save-on-Foods, Superstore, etc) also have a pretty good Asian selection as well. While there is supposedly some sort of community spirit.... it's dying out. There's a huge difference between the Chinese that has been here for decades and/or generations, and those more recent arrivals. A huge difference between the Cantonese (and other related dialects) speaking communities (the ones that built up Chinatown) and the more recent Mandarin influx. Plus now people like me, the descendants who are as Canadian as any other, except who happens to be ethnic Chinese. The older generations is shrinking and there are tons of community events outside of Chinatown. New immigrants most likely don't care about Chinatown. Chinese descent people, assuming they an even afford to live close enough to Chinatown, know better to avoid Chinatown huge to the crisis in the DTES. I mean, the neighbouring Japantown isn't Japanese. Save for the Japanese Hall, there's nothing there. It will just be a matter of time before Chinatown will be gone. Just some shop with Chinese exterior to sell trinkets to tourists.
Basically it's really hard, if not impossible, to evolve a neighborhood and keep it affordable to people who lived here, especially for such a close area to downtown. Some targets probably have to be sacrificed. Chinatown needs to make a choice.
So, are you a vancouverite or are you from Halifax? I saw you in a Halifax transit video. Maybe you've already stated your origins but I guess I missed it
Good question! I grew up in Langley, moved to Halifax for school, made some videos on the east coast, and now I'm back in Vancouver. Not sure if I would qualify as a vancouverite just yet though haha.
I think upgrading the aging buildings with taller ones that can fit more residents is inevitable and a good thing, but I know that it is possible to preserve the street level community based around Chinese/Asian shops and restaurants. It would honestly be a big waste of uniqueness to eradicate Chinatown, which has the opportunity to grow into a tourist destination, and it would weaken the Chinese community in Vancouver to not have a place of our own.
Hey I'm digging the outro song, is there a place to find some of your tracks? I see you've used some Japanese city-pop and Korean disco-funk in the other videos too, nice! Also awesome job on these urban planning videos
Yup no reason why China town can't continue to have a Chinatown vibe with taller buildings. Just regulate the building facades have to fit in the character of the neighborhood.
Chinatown in LA same story, new apartment buildings and stuff. The need for housing overrides keeping the "Chinese ambiance". Interestingly tho when I had Shanghai friends visit they did not like Chinatown for its 'old fashion style' new Chinese do not care about Chinatowns.
I loved visiting China Town in SFC, USA the most. Its such lovely and can walk safe in the evening still liked when my young students aged. SFC is such romantic city as always. Mantou bun, roasted Beijing duck and roasted pigeon bird were so delicious indeed., lol 😋😃
you understand more about Vancouver Chinatown than a lot of Chinese does. When folks think of Chinese nowadays, they think of the mainlanders only. I haven't visit CT for a few years now And your info opens my eye.
@@djjordan1019 These are seniors who came to Canada some 60-80 years ago when the opportunities to learn English/French for Chinese just wasn't there. They slaved away in all corners of Chinatown to raise their children who are Canadian citizens who speak English fluently and contribute to Canada in walks of society. Give these folks a break.
Why are we so scared of tall buildings? I think Chinatown would benefit from some well designed super-tall skinny towers sitting on restored historic podiums, designed to fully reflect the culture of it's namesake. Definitely no more of the white and glass boxes like that bland as white bread building featured in the video. It needs unique world-class towers that introduce Chinatown to Vancouver's skyline.... Clean density without cluttering up the view plus a revamped Chinatown out of it. Win Win.
It seems to me that there is a split between Architectural consistency and Cultural/Community consistency. City Hall trying to maintain a Look/Feel between Old/New, while Residents want to maintain the Community. I suspect that both approaches will fail as the Lower Mainland is changing so much and especially because part of that change is in the emergence of Chinese ethnicity being on par or very likely numerically the largest part of the population. In time all that will be left will be some preserved Heritage sites and some kind of Historical memory of it. In one sense it is a sad change, but it is not the first Community to be lost and would not be the last. It is part of the price we pay for Growth and Pro-Immigration policies that dramatically change the demographic makeup of the Lower Mainland. In another sense it is a positive change as it is no longer a necessity for what was once a very marginalized ethnic group. None of this is any consolation for China Town or any other Community that has been or will be lost, I just don't see a way wherein it can be preserved. Change is a powerful force in this still relatively young City/Country. I think it's best that we preserve the History, good, bad, or otherwise of these communities so that their roles and stories are not forgotten to future generations.
Such an awesome informative video. Much appreciated! I like your common ground summary! It's about happy mediums. I do wonder what evolution looks like to the naysayers though? People say they want an evolution that maintains culture and history....but don't offer tangible solutions or resources on how to do it. They just resist and complain. Does that mean keep all the buildings raggedy and outdated? That's what maintaining culture is? But hey I'm not even Chinese so I'll stfu. lol.
Just for a bit more context the building over his right shoulder in the background of his shot (1:36) is vacant other than some overflow office space for the insurance company that also occupies the building to his left. None of the spaces above are rented although they could be studios or office space or anything but it sits empty. This is the same story for a lot of the older buildings in the neighborhood. Beautiful but run down and boarded up, storefronts that used to have cafes or galleries or studios or offices are all empty now. There is huge pressure to find cheaper rent but at the same time these buildings stand empty.
That developer architechture is the exact same in Copenhagen, made me sad to see that $$$ developer projects all have the same look around the world, you would atleast expect them to be a different style of boxes.
Maybe form based codes could be used in such places with particular identities. Especially the lower levels of the buildings which are at the street level.
Rent is always going up in Vancouver I'd pay $450 10 years back an now it over $950 an still going up hard to pay bill's and buy food with lil to no funz for clothing and any down time. Not fun to be going into 2020 in Vancouver
TIME OUT. That area needs those changes.... I'm chinese... I grew up in Chinatown... the BC Liberals shut down Riverview mental hospital and dumped their patients in that area.... that area needs a facelift and private security because Vancouver is weak on law and that's always been the issue that no one wants to support
Its important to know that what people think as the "Chinese Community" in Vancouver, is an extremely diverse group of people made up of various background: 1.) Generational Chinese, the descendants of the Railway workers, in Canada for more than a century and their descendants. Largely English speakers with some sprinkling of Cantonese. 2.) The Hong Kong Immigrants of the 80's 90's, who largely have settled in Richmond and in fact make up the majority population in that city, preferring to avoid Chinatown in favor of new established large malls and retail centers in Richmond. Largely Cantonese speakers. This group often composes some of the wealthiest Chinese in Canada. 3.) Taiwanese Immigrants, who don't politically identify with either of those groups but have some links to old Chinatown. Largely Mandarin speakers. 4.) New generations of Mainland Chinese who arrive speaking mandarin, not the Cantonese of the local Chinese populations. 5.) The CBC - Canadian Born Chinese, first generation children of the immigrants, of all three Taiwanese, Hong Konger and Mainland Chinese, who closely identify with more mainstream Canadian values.
it is my opinion that certain neighborhoods should be kept fairly intact except for new developments on open lots or in strategic places where demolishing some buildings isn't as bad of a thing, but this seems like another case of a north american city doing the really stupid thing where the neighborhoods that are getting demolished and redeveloped are the ones that were built to be more walkable and dense. there are so many far less culturally important low density neighborhoods in Vancouver where denser housing should be built before the city digs into denser historic and culturally important neighborhoods
Montreal and Toronto Chinatown's too. Recently, Montreal mayor, Valérie Plante, proposed a moratorium on condo construction in Chinatown. A proposal yet to be put to a vote. Meanwhile, developers are already building there.
Chinatown associations call for immediate action to protect heritage "We are worried about being wiped out," said Walter Chi Yan Tom, spokesperson for the Hum Family Association Montreal Gazette Jun. 6, 2021 - The first meeting of the Montreal Chinatown Heritage Protection Working Committee appointed by Roy and Mayor Valérie Plante is not scheduled ...
As a ex UT Chinese student I’m actually very glad to see the newer development in Toronto’s Chinatown. Back in the old days, Chinatown was boring for us, eateries and grocery shopping are limited. There are hardly any liveable renting units in Chinatown. With the new developments, there are more shopping and eating options. There are also more rental units available for students.
@@class6aa What?2010? 2000? 1990? Try 1974. When Chinatown was on Bay and Dundas. Spadina Chinatown wasn't any more than a few shops. Ya, sure. Money is pouring in now. But the Chinatown I remember on Spadina 1990s was just developed about 15 years prior. So, whatever remnants of those days are pretty much long gone. Boring food, no place to rent? It's all relative, to what's happening in Scarborough, Markham, RH and Mississauga. My point is, things change.
You're doing a real service to Vancouver with these videos. Always enjoyable
consignment..ain't always good, *_eh_*
The fact that Lee wrote and played his own piano music for the backing of this video says a lot. Sheer quality, incorporating great production value, well thought-out & presented opinion, and interesting, engaging content. Good things all round.
Incredible fact!
so much talent on one channel, so happy I found this
Richmond is the really chinatown. that "Chinatown" in downtown vancouver is for tourist
And it's a poor one at best. I expect more cuture in something called "Chinatown". Espcially if it's more touristy.
Why are you so right in a way
@@pbilk Lol ive been to victoria china town and theres a lot of culture there and its touristy so your right.
😂😂😂
Is it like a second Chinatown? We have four Chinatowns in San Francisco alone.
i study at ubc for urban planning and i sweAR WHEN IM ABLE TO I WILL DO MY BEST TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS in a way that will make vancouver a more affordable thriving city thanks for making these videos i love them they keep me motivated to study
📕✊🏽📕
Thank you for your passion towards making Vancouver a more affordable and thriving city! Good luck :)
@RYG Westmount LOL. The real Canadian look is hideous architecture made from only the shittiest materials.
@RYG Ya. That's not representative of Canada. More representative of upper class/whiteness, therefore also colonialism, white supremacy, racism, classism, etc. NO THANKS! I can understand certain people may want to imagine that as representative of Canada though.
I was looking at applying for the Urban Studies program. Any tips?
I was in San Franciso last summer and I was so impressed by their Chinatown. Even Victoria's Chinatown is better than ours. Both seemed to be a thriving tourist destinations (or at least not dying). Vancouver's Chinatown seems unsafe for the average tourist. There are drug addicts everywhere and it's very dirty. For example, the CIBC ATM branch on Keefer is very nasty and smells of urine. In order for the existing business to not just survive but thrive, Chinatown needs a major face lift and clean up while preserving as much as possible the distinct architecture. I really don't want it to turn into another Yaletown. BTW, keep up the great work ! excellent videos. I like the graphics you use.
A key for Vitoria was the 10 year property tax incentive for renovated buildings. There were a lot of empty second and third floors I guess. Not necessarily affordable but this allowed keeping the built form and some revitalization.
High density doesn't increase cost of living, quite the opposite.
@Vital Mark No. That's not how supply and demand works. The prices stay high because the vacancy rate is practically zero. If you build more homes, especially smaller units-- that is, if the supply outpaces demand, the prices will drop. As it is landlords can charge practically whatever they want because the need is so great that people will pay it. Get to a %5 available vacancy rate and overnight they will have trouble finding renters at inflated prices. Then they will lower rent to fill the units. We must demand high density to make this happen. Outlaw single family only zoning. Push the city to approve new high density buildings. That's how we get affordable housing.
@@marcushenryweber1290 You're yelling into the wind Marcus. I've had dozens of conversations with Lefties. The all say building more units only raises the cost of rent. They say the developers aren't building enough units that junkies and alcoholics can afford. They also think concrete is prohibitively expensive. Right up there with platinum in terms of its cost.
@@drmodestoesq I don't see why you need to talk shit about "junkies" and "alcoholics" like they are the only working people. We need to build more units that working people can afford. High density, smaller units, with less focus on parking space. This is how Tokyo dealt with its housing cost crisis. Smaller units and lots of them.
@@marcushenryweber1290
There is a HUGE real vacancy rate. Real estate is being used for speculation and money laundering bought up often by very rich people or even speculation companies from the US or China who will never physically set foot in vancouver. As far as im concerned if a house is owned by some absentee speculator who wont live in it its vacant.
>thats not how supply and demand works
yeah no. Capitalism is like communism: looks great in theory but epicly fails in practice. especially when it comes to housing. Housing should be for people to live in not to be flipped like the stock market. Ban absentee ownership and start phasing out private landlords especially when it comes to those developer corporations whove had a huge hand in political corruption. The problem is not lack of supply but the fact that there is an "artificial" source of demand driven by people/companies who will not actually use the housing. Demand for housing needs to be limited to people who actually reside in the area who will actually use the housing to live in. We dont need to cram people into "commieblocks" so that the speculators can keep playing with the real estate as they please
Great content, and love your style of presenting and editing :) Loving the focus on Vancouver, and looking forward to your future videos!
This video has aged very well in that many of the current projects are exactly what everyone feared the most: Super-high-end luxury suites.
Keefer Street, as is, is one of the prettiest streets in Vancouver at night. Along with much of the rest of China Town. The lanterns give off a really nice vibe; not the safest place to be obviously.
The buildings can definitely be taller no doubt. But I really wish the Architects and city would work together to give the building facades, at least at street level. An architectural style either matching that of China Town or using other elements of Chinese and Asian architecture. I've seen this done successfully on other projects. I've also seen them preserve the existing façade on many buildings; 1209 Bidwell Street (at Bidwell and Davie) is one really good example.
Taller towers will reduce the amount of daylight available and change the environment a little bit. That won't be so bad on really hot summer days. If the city could swing it in a way that entices the developers to build more social housing, that could create an overall net benefit. Also maybe stipulating that ground floor tenants, if they contribute to preserving the overall culture of Chinatown, are given some type of subsidy. Although that might invoke an argument of prejudice.
I love China Town as is (and would have liked it even more in the '80's and '90's). It's not up to me to see where it goes of course. I wish all the best for the long term residents who made it so great and I hope they don't get unwillingly pushed out of their own neighbourhood which they built.
Aged even better today when there is rampant crime and violence throughout the city
Great video. Keep up the awesome content. 🎉
Came here from City Beautiful, Great quality videos!
Keep it up !
- Sincerely a fellow Urban Planning enthusiast from Toronto
Another awesome video. Good job on all the research!
My dad has lots of memories of getting delicious food in Chinatown after a shift down at the Port. I used to work near Chinatown, and we'd get huge containers of food for cheap on Fridays
how did you learn to make videos so well?
Keep it up man, these are some great videos
Council could consider requiring developers to maintain the cultural character of Chinatown in new buildings. ie colour , style, small commercial shops inviting to small businesses. Some small communities even require fastfood chains to match existing colours and building style.
Great videos !
HOMEGROWN VANCOUVER BOY HERE...GREAT JOURNALISM ..CHANNEL & MINI DOCUMENTARY !! MORE PLEASEN !! THANKS & GOOD LUCK.. !!!!✌✌👍🇬🇧🇨🇦🇬🇧🇨🇦👍✌🤘!!!!
Chinatown is dying. As a Chinese, I won't really go to Chinatown (even though I used to live right next to Chinatown, near the Viaducts) when I can get Chinese goods in T&T (just next to Chinatown) or in Richmond. Most Chinese stores sold either souvenirs (for Tourists) or expensive goods (seafood delicacies, expensive herbs/teas) that the youngsters nowadays would not buy.
My Chinese or Chinese-Canadian friends told me this also. I'm not Chinese but my mum used to take us on the Kingsway bus from Burnaby. Chinatown was unforgettable, the colours, the foods, the fragrances, the crafts and art, and the artisans; the mystery and the unknowable, never quite within our reach.
Insightful video! Going to Chinatown was a massive part of my upbringing & I have really noticed its changes in the last couple years
For someone who lives on the other side of the world; I still found this video very engaging and fascinating. Great video
I like how you've taken different perspectives with these new videos. Sick stuff mate! The video design is especially cool too. Reminds me of Vox videos. :)
The problem is simple: because all other neighborhoods don't allow for increased density all of that demand is being pushed to Chinatown which is kinda sad because it's a more characterful neighborhood than all of the others. The least they could've done is kept the same theme or integrated the old facades into the new buildings in a nice way.
The key question should be... will it still be Chinatown without Chinese people?
I'm a CBC, so my parents brought me along when they used to go grocery shopping during the 80's and 90's. My grandparents used to work in the area and my parents when they first came to Canada. That being said, most people of my grandparents' generation are now either deceased or have moved out of the area because they can cash out by selling their nearby homes and/or it's not really safe. My parents rarely go to Chinatown for shopping as there are plethora of Asian grocery stores around town, whether chain places like T&T, Sungivens, or independent grocers like Kim's, Kingsway, Fujiya, etc., there isn't the need to go all the way to Chinatown, pay for parking, and praying your car doesn't get broken into, just to buy groceries. Most regular supermarkets (Save-on-Foods, Superstore, etc) also have a pretty good Asian selection as well.
While there is supposedly some sort of community spirit.... it's dying out. There's a huge difference between the Chinese that has been here for decades and/or generations, and those more recent arrivals. A huge difference between the Cantonese (and other related dialects) speaking communities (the ones that built up Chinatown) and the more recent Mandarin influx. Plus now people like me, the descendants who are as Canadian as any other, except who happens to be ethnic Chinese.
The older generations is shrinking and there are tons of community events outside of Chinatown. New immigrants most likely don't care about Chinatown. Chinese descent people, assuming they an even afford to live close enough to Chinatown, know better to avoid Chinatown huge to the crisis in the DTES.
I mean, the neighbouring Japantown isn't Japanese. Save for the Japanese Hall, there's nothing there.
It will just be a matter of time before Chinatown will be gone. Just some shop with Chinese exterior to sell trinkets to tourists.
Basically it's really hard, if not impossible, to evolve a neighborhood and keep it affordable to people who lived here, especially for such a close area to downtown. Some targets probably have to be sacrificed. Chinatown needs to make a choice.
If it doesn't evolve, or completely decay, then it *definitely* gets completely unaffordable as more people compete for the static number of homes
These videos are really well-researched and well-edited. Thanks!
Love your videos! We definitely need more video production like this.
great voice and way of presenting things without boring the viewer, love it
Ditto: You're doing a real service to Vancouver with these videos. Always enjoyable.
Nice to see some quality informational videos about Vancouver. Good job. Thank you.
Very thorough and well made/animated video, great job!
Great video! Thanks for the in-video mention. Keep up the great work.
Great video! Chinatown is close to my heart and this video was incredibly informative.
The concept of dedicated "Chinatowns" seems in itself, out of place in this day and age.
You can't say Chinatown. That's racism! #stopasianhate
@@wclark3196 ?
@@wclark3196 hahahaha
Look forward to your new video! You are so talented! And you are a charming story teller!
Another great video, you have really great talent. I hope one day you’ll be making full length documentaries and be the voice of Vancouver.
Awesome channel man really. Being born and raised here it's rare to see interesting and quality content outside of big media
Imma need a full-length version of An Okay Piano Song, please and thank you. Your videos and music choices are so great!
Very well done, well researched. Keep it up!
High-value production, great work
So, are you a vancouverite or are you from Halifax? I saw you in a Halifax transit video. Maybe you've already stated your origins but I guess I missed it
Good question! I grew up in Langley, moved to Halifax for school, made some videos on the east coast, and now I'm back in Vancouver. Not sure if I would qualify as a vancouverite just yet though haha.
About Here dang. How do you know all this stuff?
Oh ok
Much enjoyed your videos. Well produced. Keep it up Lee!
holy crap, how do you only have 6k subs? Really underrated
It's refreshing (and kinda awesome) to see well-made videos of Vancouver! That's my city!!
Great Video! :) An update on the developments in Chinatown would be awesome!
We need an national inquiry into the "disappearance" of the otter! LONG LIVE THE OTTER!!!!!!!!!
Such a creative editing! Amazing job!
love your videos! Keep up the good work!
I think upgrading the aging buildings with taller ones that can fit more residents is inevitable and a good thing, but I know that it is possible to preserve the street level community based around Chinese/Asian shops and restaurants. It would honestly be a big waste of uniqueness to eradicate Chinatown, which has the opportunity to grow into a tourist destination, and it would weaken the Chinese community in Vancouver to not have a place of our own.
Hey I'm digging the outro song, is there a place to find some of your tracks? I see you've used some Japanese city-pop and Korean disco-funk in the other videos too, nice! Also awesome job on these urban planning videos
great production here man. really a great video
Awesome videos, being from Van. this is very interesting to me and you seem very well researched.
10/10 would subscribe again
Yup no reason why China town can't continue to have a Chinatown vibe with taller buildings. Just regulate the building facades have to fit in the character of the neighborhood.
Wow these videos are fantastic! Great editing man keep it up
Love your insightful videos about various sites around Vancouver … ✨👁️👁️✨💕🙌🏼🏆
Great videos, keep up the good work.
Thanks for the report.
Chinatown in LA same story, new apartment buildings and stuff. The need for housing overrides keeping the "Chinese ambiance".
Interestingly tho when I had Shanghai friends visit they did not like Chinatown for its 'old fashion style' new Chinese do not care about Chinatowns.
Great work
Amazing video! Love your content
through your videos i now have way more knowledge about vancouver than i ever needed but apparently wanted. im from lubbock. =)
Keep it up mate. I love your video series.
Great video! Very informative.
look into Georgism and their "land value tax". Everywhere it has been tried, it kept rent and housing prices down but started a construction boom.
This channel deserves more subs!
Really enjoying your videos!
Anyone have an update on how the developments are going to go? Just seeing this now.
Great content! Keep it up!
I loved visiting China Town in SFC, USA the most. Its such lovely and can walk safe in the evening still liked when my young students aged. SFC is such romantic city as always. Mantou bun, roasted Beijing duck and roasted pigeon bird were so delicious indeed., lol 😋😃
Great video! 4:00 but if the units are snatched up by wealthier folks and after that they still rent it out at market price, the issue persists...
Very interesting videos
From city beautiful :) big support, but more videos please ~
you understand more about Vancouver Chinatown than a lot of Chinese does. When folks think of Chinese nowadays, they think of the mainlanders only. I haven't visit CT for a few years now And your info opens my eye.
This is awesome! If there a way to sub it in Chinese so my older Vancouver dwelling Chinese relatives can watch as well?
Why not have them learn Enlgish you know the language of CANADA
@@djjordan1019 shut up nerd
Tristan WH I know right? The 'language of Canada'? Give me a break. He sounds pretty racist.
DJ Jordan canada has french as an official language too?? but ok. come to ottawa, if you don't believe me.
@@djjordan1019 These are seniors who came to Canada some 60-80 years ago when the opportunities to learn English/French for Chinese just wasn't there. They slaved away in all corners of Chinatown to raise their children who are Canadian citizens who speak English fluently and contribute to Canada in walks of society. Give these folks a break.
Why are we so scared of tall buildings?
I think Chinatown would benefit from some well designed super-tall skinny towers sitting on restored historic podiums, designed to fully reflect the culture of it's namesake. Definitely no more of the white and glass boxes like that bland as white bread building featured in the video. It needs unique world-class towers that introduce Chinatown to Vancouver's skyline.... Clean density without cluttering up the view plus a revamped Chinatown out of it. Win Win.
It seems to me that there is a split between Architectural consistency and Cultural/Community consistency. City Hall trying to maintain a Look/Feel between Old/New, while Residents want to maintain the Community. I suspect that both approaches will fail as the Lower Mainland is changing so much and especially because part of that change is in the emergence of Chinese ethnicity being on par or very likely numerically the largest part of the population. In time all that will be left will be some preserved Heritage sites and some kind of Historical memory of it.
In one sense it is a sad change, but it is not the first Community to be lost and would not be the last. It is part of the price we pay for Growth and Pro-Immigration policies that dramatically change the demographic makeup of the Lower Mainland. In another sense it is a positive change as it is no longer a necessity for what was once a very marginalized ethnic group.
None of this is any consolation for China Town or any other Community that has been or will be lost, I just don't see a way wherein it can be preserved. Change is a powerful force in this still relatively young City/Country. I think it's best that we preserve the History, good, bad, or otherwise of these communities so that their roles and stories are not forgotten to future generations.
Great channel.
If this guy runs as mayor I will support him. I don't live there but will work for him
Thanks for your videos man! They are really informative
i'm from victoria but keep watching ur videos
Great contents, Bro. Love from Xi'an.
Anyone from City Beautiful? :D
so good, hope you keep it up.
for an outsider, that doesn't really look like a chinatown nowadays
These videos are amazing PLEASE don't stop
Nicely done video 😎👍
Great content, man.
Awesome work man keep it up!
Such an awesome informative video. Much appreciated! I like your common ground summary! It's about happy mediums. I do wonder what evolution looks like to the naysayers though? People say they want an evolution that maintains culture and history....but don't offer tangible solutions or resources on how to do it. They just resist and complain. Does that mean keep all the buildings raggedy and outdated? That's what maintaining culture is? But hey I'm not even Chinese so I'll stfu. lol.
Just for a bit more context the building over his right shoulder in the background of his shot (1:36) is vacant other than some overflow office space for the insurance company that also occupies the building to his left. None of the spaces above are rented although they could be studios or office space or anything but it sits empty. This is the same story for a lot of the older buildings in the neighborhood. Beautiful but run down and boarded up, storefronts that used to have cafes or galleries or studios or offices are all empty now. There is huge pressure to find cheaper rent but at the same time these buildings stand empty.
Its ultimately about preserving the culture and spirit of the place.
That developer architechture is the exact same in Copenhagen, made me sad to see that $$$ developer projects all have the same look around the world, you would atleast expect them to be a different style of boxes.
"There is something foreign about these buildings".
Some might say that Chinatown is pretty foreign aswell?
Just as foreign as European settlers. Chinese people have been in British Columbia since the 1850s.
Maybe form based codes could be used in such places with particular identities. Especially the lower levels of the buildings which are at the street level.
You have some really cool opinions!
Rent is always going up in Vancouver I'd pay $450 10 years back an now it over $950 an still going up hard to pay bill's and buy food with lil to no funz for clothing and any down time. Not fun to be going into 2020 in Vancouver
TIME OUT. That area needs those changes.... I'm chinese... I grew up in Chinatown... the BC Liberals shut down Riverview mental hospital and dumped their patients in that area.... that area needs a facelift and private security because Vancouver is weak on law and that's always been the issue that no one wants to support
I love your channel
Its important to know that what people think as the "Chinese Community" in Vancouver, is an extremely diverse group of people made up of various background:
1.) Generational Chinese, the descendants of the Railway workers, in Canada for more than a century and their descendants. Largely English speakers with some sprinkling of Cantonese.
2.) The Hong Kong Immigrants of the 80's 90's, who largely have settled in Richmond and in fact make up the majority population in that city, preferring to avoid Chinatown in favor of new established large malls and retail centers in Richmond. Largely Cantonese speakers. This group often composes some of the wealthiest Chinese in Canada.
3.) Taiwanese Immigrants, who don't politically identify with either of those groups but have some links to old Chinatown. Largely Mandarin speakers.
4.) New generations of Mainland Chinese who arrive speaking mandarin, not the Cantonese of the local Chinese populations.
5.) The CBC - Canadian Born Chinese, first generation children of the immigrants, of all three Taiwanese, Hong Konger and Mainland Chinese, who closely identify with more mainstream Canadian values.
it is my opinion that certain neighborhoods should be kept fairly intact except for new developments on open lots or in strategic places where demolishing some buildings isn't as bad of a thing, but this seems like another case of a north american city doing the really stupid thing where the neighborhoods that are getting demolished and redeveloped are the ones that were built to be more walkable and dense. there are so many far less culturally important low density neighborhoods in Vancouver where denser housing should be built before the city digs into denser historic and culturally important neighborhoods
Montreal and Toronto Chinatown's too. Recently, Montreal mayor, Valérie Plante, proposed a moratorium on condo construction in Chinatown. A proposal yet to be put to a vote. Meanwhile, developers are already building there.
Chinatown associations call for immediate action to protect heritage
"We are worried about being wiped out," said Walter Chi Yan Tom, spokesperson for the Hum Family Association
Montreal Gazette
Jun. 6, 2021 - The first meeting of the Montreal Chinatown Heritage Protection Working Committee appointed by Roy and Mayor Valérie Plante is not scheduled ...
As a ex UT Chinese student I’m actually very glad to see the newer development in Toronto’s Chinatown. Back in the old days, Chinatown was boring for us, eateries and grocery shopping are limited. There are hardly any liveable renting units in Chinatown. With the new developments, there are more shopping and eating options. There are also more rental units available for students.
@@class6aa
What?2010? 2000? 1990?
Try 1974. When Chinatown was on Bay and Dundas. Spadina Chinatown wasn't any more than a few shops.
Ya, sure. Money is pouring in now. But the Chinatown I remember on Spadina 1990s was just developed about 15 years prior. So, whatever remnants of those days are pretty much long gone.
Boring food, no place to rent? It's all relative, to what's happening in Scarborough, Markham, RH and Mississauga.
My point is, things change.
Chinatown is looking more like modern China, except clean.
Super cool Volvo 244 at 5:29