VANCOUVER – Jim Green, the unofficial mayor of the Downtown Eastside, ushered in the next stage of the Woodward’s redevelopment project Friday and declared it “the heart and soul” of the dilapidated neighbourhood and its hope for its future.

The three developer teams that made the short list unveiled their models and conceptual design schemes, and project officials said construction work could begin as early as next year with the first tenants moving in as early as late 2006.

Green and his backers hope the redevelopment, which could cost up to $100 million, will pump some life into the surrounding area, stimulating the return of shops and other businesses without driving the current residents away.

All three design proposals would add new buildings or towers to the site in the 100-block of West Hastings, and all would open up the old department store building to allow public access to a central courtyard.

City council is to select the winning proposal in September and then has to find an agency to operate the 100 or more social housing units the city wants included, and negotiate a final agreement with the developer.

All three proposals would retain the big “W” that has marked the Vancouver skyline for decades. Two would keep it approximately where it is on the roof of the old store. The third would bring it down to the ground and use it as a monumental feature of the courtyard.

Green, his eyes glistening, said he has been working on plans for the site since 1985, seven years before the family-owned Woodward’s department store finally closed.

He said the social housing units are the key to revitalizing the run-down neighbourhood without kicking out the people who live there now.

“That’s who it’s for, primarily,” he said, adding, “It’s for all of us. It’s for the city, it’s for the business community, and it’s really and truly the heart and soul of the Downtown Eastside.”

“This is our past and our present and our future, coming together in one structure.”

The neighbourhood needs the work. The block across Hastings from the Woodward’s site is especially run down, with many buildings empty or partly empty, the several remaining storefronts protected by iron bars and every building deeply stained with decades of accumulated dirt, pollution and pigeon droppings.

Shortly before Friday’s unveiling in “Room W” in the northeast corner of the old Woodward’s store, half a dozen young street people clustered by a barred storefront across the street, apparently smoking crack cocaine and breaking into herky-jerky dance movements.

The unveiling was a busy gathering of about 200 city councillors and bureaucrats, MLAs, developers and designers and their staff members, Downtown Eastside activists and media.

The three remaining development teams are:

– Millennium Development Corp. with Peter Malek as developer and architect Stu Lyon and consulting companies Brook Development Consultants and Monkey Forest Consulting.

– Westbank Projects/Peters Investment Group, with Ian Gillespie acting as the developer and architect Gregory Henriquez.

Concert Properties, headed by David Podmore, and Simon Lin for the Holborn Group with architects Ron Yuen and Mark Whitehead.

The most likely anchor tenant for the project is Simon Fraser University‘s School of Contemporary Arts, which has been renting studio space in the area for years and has been looking for a permanent home. The University of B.C.‘s school of architecture and Vancouver Community College‘s jewelry program are also interested.

SFU vice-president Warren Gill said the university has had a presence in downtown Vancouver for 25 years, “and by bringing our School of Contemporary Arts here we believe that we can contribute to the revitalization of this great building.”

First Nations, Downtown Eastside groups and residents will all be invited to participate in fleshing out the design between now and September.

Green acknowledged the project can’t save the Downtown Eastside on its own. Asked whether 100 social housing units is enough, he said he had hoped to have 400 units in the redevelopment, and “we need 2,000 for this community.”

© The Vancouver Sun 2004

Woodward’s timetable

Vancouver Sun

Saturday, July 10, 2004

Here is a timetable for events related to the redevelopment of the old Woodward’s department store site in the 100-block of West Hastings:

-Open houses to view project models and other displays in Room W,

101 W. Hastings St.:

– Today, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday July 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday July 19, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

-Representatives of the short-listed developers were to attend today’s session, and one on Sunday, July 18.

-After July 18, the models will be on display on the third floor of City Hall until Sept. 15.

-Tuesday, July 20: City council to be briefed on the proposals.

-Wednesday, July 21, 3 p.m.: The city’s urban design planning and heritage commissions meet at City Hall to make their recommendations. This meeting is open to the public.

-Thursday, Sept. 9: Open House at 101 W. Hastings for an overview of city staff recommendations to city council.

-Tuesday, Sept. 14: City council discusses the staff report.

-Wednesday Sept. 15: City council hears from public delegations before making a decision.

© The Vancouver Sun 2004