The petition for 10 sites campaign takes off in front of Pantages Theater
As the winter rains let up on Friday, members of the Downtown Eastside Neighborhood Council (DNC) took their fight to the Pantages Theatre, at 152 E. Hastings St, Vancouver.
'We are in front of the Pantages Theatre because this is the front line in the fight against gentrification,' said Ivan Drury of the DNC.
'We are trying to inform the general public who the DNC is and bring to light our fight for the 10 sites for social housing campaign,' said Fraser Stuart, a DNC board member. Approximately 10 DNC members were in attendance and DTES community members signed petitions, signed up as council members and enjoyed the coffee and cookies.
The DNC is asking owner Mark Williams to reduce his asking price on the Pantages theatre and the four adjacent buildings so the City of Vancouver can purchase the whole lot (all the sites he owns next to the Pantages) and turn it into 100% social housing.
The Pantages theatre and the four adjacent buildings on the west are owned by developer Marc Williams, registered under the numbred corporation 0725105 BC Ltd. Williams is also the VP of the West Coast Division at Worthington Properties Inc. whose headquarters are in Edmonton. The Vancouver office is currently located at the Koret Lofts at 55 E. Cordova St. Williams was unavailable for comment.
'In the 100 block, residents are at risk of becoming homeless if this site is turned into expensive condos,' he said. 'The 3 major low income hotels in the 100 block would upscale as a result, displacing the current residents.'
Dr. Margo Leigh Butler, who works in the DTES with UBC's Humanities 101, agreed with the petition for the 10 sites.
'The 10 sites for social housing campaign reads as a 'to do' list for the City of Vancouver to make good on its promises,' she said. 'When the 10 sites campaign succeeds, many people living on very low incomes will have the housing they need in the downtown eastside, their neighborhood.'
She paused, and thought for a moment. 'It will be wonderful!'
Tami Starlight is a member of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council, and an editor member of the Vancouver Media Co-op.
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