Chinatown Divided

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

[@TheNewTravel]

You're doing a real service to Vancouver with these videos. Always enjoyable

[@trainrover]

consignment..ain't always good, *_eh_*

[@tomwatson9178]

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.

[@brightlight3520]

Incredible fact!

[@AlecPrice]

so much talent on one channel, so happy I found this

[@angelinatham5945]

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

[@navlad7361]

📕✊🏽📕

[@valentineostaszewski9871]

Thank you for your passion towards making Vancouver a more affordable and thriving city! Good luck :)

[@goliaboi]

@RYG Westmount LOL. The real Canadian look is hideous architecture made from only the shittiest materials.

[@goliaboi]

@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.

[@jens_le_benz]

I was looking at applying for the Urban Studies program. Any tips?

[@yuanl7090]

Richmond is the really chinatown. that "Chinatown" in downtown vancouver is for tourist

[@pbilk]

And it's a poor one at best. I expect more cuture in something called "Chinatown". Espcially if it's more touristy.

[@kevintsunami3880]

Why are you so right in a way

[@kevintsunami3880]

@@pbilk Lol ive been to victoria china town and theres a lot of culture there and its touristy so your right.

[@batteytehoukamau9962]

😂😂😂

[@RaymondHng]

Is it like a second Chinatown? We have four Chinatowns in San Francisco alone.

[@charmander777]

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.

[@honkytonker7293]

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.

[@marcushenryweber1290]

High density doesn't increase cost of living, quite the opposite.

[@marcushenryweber1290]

@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.

[@drmodestoesq]

@@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.

[@marcushenryweber1290]

@@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.

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

@@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

[@thecollegecuber2006]

Great content, and love your style of presenting and editing :) Loving the focus on Vancouver, and looking forward to your future videos!

[@matthewshirley8132]

Great video. Keep up the awesome content. 🎉

[@randomCADstuff]

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.

[@brightlight3520]

Aged even better today when there is rampant crime and violence throughout the city

[@sjappiyah4071]

Came here from City Beautiful, Great quality videos! Keep it up ! - Sincerely a fellow Urban Planning enthusiast from Toronto

[@burythecastle97]

Insightful video! Going to Chinatown was a massive part of my upbringing & I have really noticed its changes in the last couple years

[@iwatcutube]

Another awesome video. Good job on all the research!

[@pta197]

These videos are really well-researched and well-edited. Thanks!

[@yotoy82]

great voice and way of presenting things without boring the viewer, love it

[@alexanderchang9721]

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. :)

[@franz_van]

Love your videos! We definitely need more video production like this.

[@pheeshankar4731]

HOMEGROWN VANCOUVER BOY HERE...GREAT JOURNALISM ..CHANNEL & MINI DOCUMENTARY !! MORE PLEASEN !! THANKS & GOOD LUCK.. !!!!✌✌👍🇬🇧🇨🇦🇬🇧🇨🇦👍✌🤘!!!!

[@CameronBoyes]

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

[@jpolt1317]

For someone who lives on the other side of the world; I still found this video very engaging and fascinating. Great video

[@AgainstTheMoon]

Keep it up man, these are some great videos

[@Vancouvercondonews-dot-com]

Great video! Thanks for the in-video mention. Keep up the great work.

[@clambo1496]

Nice to see some quality informational videos about Vancouver. Good job. Thank you.

[@williampamblanco]

Very thorough and well made/animated video, great job!

[@mrimmabreakitdown]

Awesome channel man really. Being born and raised here it's rare to see interesting and quality content outside of big media

[@lolo_logan]

Ditto: You're doing a real service to Vancouver with these videos. Always enjoyable.

[@JackyDengMusic]

Great video! Chinatown is close to my heart and this video was incredibly informative.

[@successfullguy]

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 !

[@philmanyeung]

It's refreshing (and kinda awesome) to see well-made videos of Vancouver! That's my city!!

[@wilsoncheng7581]

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.

[@FredIsMyName22]

how did you learn to make videos so well?

[@DR-es2rf]

Look forward to your new video! You are so talented! And you are a charming story teller!

[@Maxime_K-G]

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.

[@lanziyingluo2816]

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.

[@tristanridley1601]

If it doesn't evolve, or completely decay, then it *definitely* gets completely unaffordable as more people compete for the static number of homes

[@nickzalan4762]

holy crap, how do you only have 6k subs? Really underrated

[@deutschpi303]

Imma need a full-length version of An Okay Piano Song, please and thank you. Your videos and music choices are so great!

[@Seamuspmc]

Very well done, well researched. Keep it up!

[@HocjeyGirl9]

Great Video! :) An update on the developments in Chinatown would be awesome!

[@hadleymellesmoen1380]

love your videos! Keep up the good work!

[@dtan2817]

Much enjoyed your videos. Well produced. Keep it up Lee!

[@sahilp70248]

High-value production, great work

[@bernardfong1019]

Thanks for the report.

[@vancitynico1958]

Awesome videos, being from Van. this is very interesting to me and you seem very well researched. 10/10 would subscribe again

[@DarcyCardinal]

The concept of dedicated "Chinatowns" seems in itself, out of place in this day and age.

[@wclark3196]

You can't say Chinatown. That's racism! #stopasianhate

[@Kishanth.J]

@@wclark3196 ?

[@beretaniastreet6384]

@@wclark3196 hahahaha

[@savvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvva]

Such a creative editing! Amazing job!

[@smallstudiodesign]

Love your insightful videos about various sites around Vancouver … ✨👁️👁️✨💕🙌🏼🏆

[@Alesse-hu5mv]

through your videos i now have way more knowledge about vancouver than i ever needed but apparently wanted. im from lubbock. =)

[@bkc6873]

Wow these videos are fantastic! Great editing man keep it up

[@bentencho]

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.

[@EricosterWo3]

great production here man. really a great video

[@FidelityDenim1]

Great videos, keep up the good work.

[@jgcaba3173]

Keep it up mate. I love your video series.

[@jamesseto1]

Amazing video! Love your content

[@hankchanocd]

This channel deserves more subs!

[@k.i.1700]

Great video! Very informative.

[@damagedtalent]

Really enjoying your videos!

[@lukedonkersgoed9804]

Great work

[@ianchen9217]

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.

[@brickhouse7401]

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.

[@sanderw7153]

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.

[@Mumba8888]

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.

[@LinoRamirezE]

Thanks for your videos man! They are really informative

[@fulosophy724]

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

[@darianyee5714]

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.

[@erikjj235]

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.

[@TheAlexwilhelm]

so good, hope you keep it up.

[@AttyEK]

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...

[@Vincious]

From city beautiful :) big support, but more videos please ~

[@davereads27]

Great content! Keep it up!

[@doubi-mz9lm]

Great content, man.

[@mr.hedgehog420]

i'm from victoria but keep watching ur videos

[@slam5]

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.

[@Tropicalblueful]

Great channel.

[@lordpickle8424]

We need an national inquiry into the "disappearance" of the otter! LONG LIVE THE OTTER!!!!!!!!!

[@Noodlesandmelons123]

These videos are amazing PLEASE don't stop

[@snaketiger00]

Awesome work man keep it up!

[@bayezidhtanu2907]

Great contents, Bro. Love from Xi'an. Anyone from City Beautiful? :D

[@Victoria-si7hs]

Very interesting videos

[@GoogleAccount-bo3py]

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

[@AboutHere]

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.

[@sadidrahimi]

About Here dang. How do you know all this stuff?

[@GoogleAccount-bo3py]

Oh ok

[@Deerych]

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.

[@kathieli8060]

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 😋😃

[@bobthompson4918]

Nicely done video 😎👍

[@kimjong_un8801]

Its ultimately about preserving the culture and spirit of the place.

[@fallingpizza11]

You have some really cool opinions!

[@fallenshallrise]

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.

[@k_the_viking]

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

[@johnparsons3454]

If this guy runs as mayor I will support him. I don't live there but will work for him

[@chaitanyalodha3948]

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.

[@ClaytonGoldhawk]

Anyone have an update on how the developments are going to go? Just seeing this now.

[@mohamedbkh2508]

I love your channel

[@tintin5428]

for an outsider, that doesn't really look like a chinatown nowadays

[@nhlvan]

Damn this is good production quality. You have like a Vox-lite thing going.

[@davepubliday6410]

As long as they fit in the overall arch of the skyline, they should be allow to be tall. We need more housing. Housing prices are too high. The only way to fix that is through the supply side of “supply and demand”.

[@binyoung7297]

You have a very nice sounding voice.

[@paxundpeace9970]

'Really detailed.

[@SirMangoMantango]

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.

[@coopeeeee]

Super cool Volvo 244 at 5:29

[@timsong93]

I see new video, i press like

[@allenking9459]

1更好的建筑设计来吸引商业活动 2更高的容积率降低租金 3有选择性的老建筑保护

[@samsonxp]

This is awesome! If there a way to sub it in Chinese so my older Vancouver dwelling Chinese relatives can watch as well?

[@djjordan1019]

Why not have them learn Enlgish you know the language of CANADA

[@tristanwh9466]

@@djjordan1019 shut up nerd

[@brickhouse7401]

Tristan WH I know right? The 'language of Canada'? Give me a break. He sounds pretty racist.

[@connorbit]

DJ Jordan canada has french as an official language too?? but ok. come to ottawa, if you don't believe me.

[@slam5]

@@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.

[@christianwestling2019]

"There is something foreign about these buildings". Some might say that Chinatown is pretty foreign aswell?

[@oneofthetrasians]

Just as foreign as European settlers. Chinese people have been in British Columbia since the 1850s.