Granville bar owners call for BC Housing inquiry as SRO disorder plagues entertainment district
A group of hospitality business owners gathered Wednesday morning to say they've had enough of the street disorder and building damage that often forces them to shut their doors and turn away customers in the city's entertainment district.
It comes one day after a fire at a single-room occupancy hotel owned by the province caused significant water damage to Aura Nightclub on Granville Street.
As firefighters poured water into a top floor unit, it cascaded down six-storeys and tore a hole in the ceiling of the ground-floor business.
'I don't even know if I'm going to be open this weekend. Just last month, I was closed for 16 days,' said Aura owner Alan Goodall. 'I had 50 staff members out of work. People that live paycheque to paycheque were given 24 hours notice, and they didn't know how they were going to pay their rent.'
According to Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, there have been 44 fires in the building since 2020, when it was converted from a Howard Johnson Hotel to a BC Housing SRO.
'Just in the last month alone, my ceiling has caved in in three different locations,' said Goodall.
Investigators deem the latest fire accidental and say it was caused by a butane torch used for smoking drugs.
The business owners say much of the disorder in the entertainment district can be traced back to the two SRO's directly across from each other in the 1100-block of Granville Street.
Each also has a nightclub on the ground floor.
On Thursday morning, a man smoking something out of a glass pipe in the doorway of Aura startled Mayor Ken Sim and Vancouver Police Chief Department Chief Const. Steve Rai as they made their way inside with Goodall to survey the most recent damage.
The Hospitality Vancouver Association is demanding the province take steps to relocate the supportive housing units away from the entertainment district.
'This is not an anti-poverty message. This is a message to get people who need help the proper help,' said Dave Kershaw, who owns Cabana Nightclub on the ground floor of one of the SROs. 'They are not being served being put in SROs on Granville Street. And at the same time, it is destroying our businesses.'
Provincial Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon appears to be onboard with moving supportive housing away from Granville Street, but no timeline has been made public.
'We appreciated the city offering to bring three pieces of land to the table so we can build purpose-built supportive housing elsewhere,' said Kahlon. 'We're committed to that, and I confirmed that with the mayor yesterday.'
At the former Howard Johnson Hotel on the east side of the street, many of the windows are covered in thick layers of pigeon feces, suggesting the building may not be getting the regular maintenance one would expect of a BC Housing property.
'We at Hospitality Vancouver Association today are calling for a full inquiry related to BC Housing, their funding model, their oversight and their accountability,' said Laura Ballance, a spokesperson with the Hospitality Vancouver Association.
The province did not directly respond to questions about whether it would open an investigation into BC Housing, but did provide a statement.
'As BC Housing continues to deliver on government commitments, we must also modernize and adapt to create more efficiencies in how it operates,' it said. 'This work is underway and is supported by government.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
33 minutes ago
- CBC
Air Canada resumes flights after strike deal
Aug. 19, 2025 | A strike at Air Canada is over, but it could be days before flights get back to normal. Five Canadian soldiers are suspended after a Nazi salute video surfaces. And inflation cools, except at the grocery store.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
How these entrepreneurs turned their side hustle into their main gig
When Shelby Weaver started customizing sneakers as a hobby in 2018, she says she didn't consider herself to be particularly artistic. Ms. Weaver sought reprieve from her busy role as a director for the Toronto Raptors when inspiration to experiment with altering sneakers first struck. A year later, Ms. Weaver was hatching a plan to launch a studio where others could come together to paint and personalize their favourite pair of kicks. Today, Ms. Weaver and her co-founder Abby Albino, who is head of brand and business strategy at Canada Basketball, run Mack House, a studio near Toronto's Queen Street West strip where sneaker heads can put their personal spin on footwear. Next door is Makeway, launched a year later, where the pair sell sneakers and streetwear. 'I'm an action person,' says Ms. Weaver. 'If I have an idea that I think is good, I'm doing it right away.' Like many entrepreneurs, Ms. Weaver and Ms. Albino started a new venture while balancing full-time jobs, and in Ms. Albino's case, parenthood. They are two out of 7.4 million Canadian adults who report having a side-hustle on top of other work commitments. What sets some of these entrepreneurs apart from the rest is their ability to scale their side gigs into full-fledged businesses. A key strategy for scale, according to Rawcology founder Tara Tomulka, is a willingness to experiment. 'I'm a recovering perfectionist,' confesses Ms. Tomulka, who began building her raw food business 10 years ago while working in corporate communications. 'It can hinder you from getting started if you think it needs to be perfect first. Get out there. Start experimenting, adjust and get feedback. You can change things along the way.' Ms. Tomulka did exactly that while researching the ideal Rawcology product to place in supermarkets. She experimented with several types of plant-based foods, including a line of vegan dips, before landing on a recipe that enabled coconut chips to masquerade as Doritos. 'On a whim, I tried making smoky cheese coconut chips. I took the recipe to [the culinary department] at George Brown [College], and we looked at how we could launch a product like that with a shelf life. While testing recipes there, I realized I wanted to have an impact by creating snack foods that are better for you.' Ms. Tomulka has since left corporate communications entirely and works full time on expanding Rawcology's footprint with products like grain-free granola and other low allergen offerings. Both she and the women behind Mack House and Makeway credit their trajectory, in some part, to the support of good mentors and business partners. 'I had a very positive relationship with my boss,' Ms. Tomulka says when reflecting on the period where she transitioned from full-time work in communications to studying nutrition. 'I didn't leave my full-time role right away. We made an arrangement for me to stay on part-time while going back to school.' Ms. Weaver says her parents are both entrepreneurs, which made taking the leap herself less daunting. She also notes that, perhaps counterintuitively, juggling multiple jobs and projects has helped relieve some of the early stress of entrepreneurship. 'Doing this while we've had full-time jobs has allowed us to take the pressure off the business financially,' says Ms. Weaver, who notes the recent lull in consumer spending is a difficult reality the Makeway team is navigating. 'When you're fighting to pay your bills you make very different business decisions than when you're investing in the business. I'm not saying it is viable for everyone, but having the businesses live on their own while also building our careers in basketball has been empowering.' Like the founders of Rawcology and Makeway, Kimberly Knight and Shanelle McKenzie were looking to improve their wellbeing when they hatched their plan for what would eventually be Canada's first wellness space for women of colour, The Villij. The co-founders met while working at Via Rail in 2017 and started working on The Villij while holding down full-time jobs. In 2023 and 2024 respectively, they left their roles to focus on growing The Villij full time. What started as a series of sold-out, pop-up yoga classes morphed into a bricks-and-mortar space for both fitness and networking. 'We knew we were ready to open the studio because we were putting out events and we were sold out each time,' recalls Ms. McKenzie while reflecting on what prompted them to take the leap into launching their studio. 'Sixty per cent of women who came to our pop-up events said they would have never tried yoga before due to lack of representation,' says Ms. Knight. 'We know we are meeting an underserved community, and it's not necessarily that the demand wasn't there, it's just that we're one of the first to step up to the plate and successfully meet it.' Another common thread between these entrepreneurs is a powerful ability to cultivate community. Ms. Tomulka says one of her proudest moments was seeing different generations of consumers fall in love with her food. For Ms. Weaver, there's pride in building a business and community hub that engages and employs locals. 'We are obsessed with our community, our business, and our team,' says Ms. McKenzie. 'There's not a day that I don't think about something we can do for The Villij.'
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Windsor MP says public deserves answers on Gordie Howe bridge opening date
'Straight answer' needed on opening date of Gordie Howe bridge, says Windsor West MP 12 hours ago Duration 1:44 The MP who represents the area that includes the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor, Ont., says the public deserves "a straight answer" on exactly when the new border crossing will be open to traffic. "This construction project is more than just a simple bridge, it's a vital economic lifeline for Windsor and Canada – given the volume of trade that flows through our border," Windsor West Conservative MP Harb Gill said in a statement to CBC News. "Our community deserves clear, consistent communication, not conflicting timelines." Despite promises the bridge will open this fall, a firm date has yet to be announced. The opening of the bridge will cap off a highly anticipated megaproject that has been in the works long before construction began in 2018. The bridge will provide a third vehicle crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, supporting a crucial corridor for Canada-U.S. trade. The cost for the six-lane, 2.5-kilometre crossing was estimated at $6.4 billion as of last year, with the Canadian side footing the bill. On Tuesday, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) — the Crown corporation overseeing the project — said it's too early to provide an opening date but "work is progressing well towards our anticipated completion in fall 2025." "We have an estimated two per cent of construction work remaining," Heather Grondin, chief relations officer for the WDBA, said in a statement. Grondin added that the agency prioritizes infrastructure quality and employee safety. WATCH: What's the best view of the Gordie Howe bridge? What's the best view of the Gordie Howe International Bridge? 9 days ago CBC's Mike Evans went around Windsor, Ont., and neighbouring LaSalle snapping pictures of the Gordie Howe bridge to illustrate unique views of the crossing. He talks about his photo journey with CBC host Amy Dodge. Asked to respond to Gill's comment, the bridge authority said it's "committed to keeping everyone informed as we work toward the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge." Gill said he is awaiting a response from agencies and partners on the project regarding the opening date. "We believe that the people of Windsor-Essex deserve a straight answer," he said. CBSA confirms it's ready to take over port of entry The bridge authority has yet to address an April report by ratings agency S&P Global that suggested the opening date could be delayed until sometime in 2026. That report claimed there were delays in handing over ports of entry to border services agencies that could throw the timeline off course. However, a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) told CBC News on Tuesday that handover of the Canadian port of entry facilities began early this year, and staff are beginning to occupy the space. "The CBSA will be ready to provide services at the Canadian port of entry by the opening date," CBSA spokesperson Jacqueline Roby said in an email. On the U.S. side, Customs and Border Protection did not provide comment. What work is happening now? Though the work at the bridge may be less visible following the completion of the bridge deck connecting the U.S. and Canadian sides last year, there's plenty of activity underway. According to the WDBA, the ongoing work includes: On the bridge itself, the installation of electrical, signage, lighting, fire suppression, lights and more. At the Canadian port of entry, interior work such as installing flooring, light fixtures and cabinets is taking place, as well as exterior work like landscaping and paving. Similar work is happening on the U.S. port of entry. On the U.S. side, the "final steps" are underway for the ramps connecting 1-75 to the U.S. port of entry, such as line painting and signage. Work is also ongoing on local road improvements on the U.S. side and five new pedestrian bridges. Building and testing of the technological systems at the crossing. For example, the technology that allows the toll booth to capture and read an RFID tag on a vehicle.
