The Province

Finding paths for a new Strathcona

Saturday meeting of residents, businesses designed to initiate neighbourh­ood change

- STEPHANIE IP sip@theprovinc­e.com twitter.com/stephanie_ip

“We can’t keep saying what’s wrong. That’s fine but that’s over, so how are we going to correct it?”

— Condo developer Bob Rennie

Revitaliza­tion and gentrifica­tion are two sides of the same coin, similar concepts that at times elicit very different responses.

Vancouver condo king Bob Rennie understand­s that, and it’s why he seems well suited to facilitate a panel discussion about the revitaliza­tion of East Hastings at this Saturday’s Meet the Makers Expo.

“We can’t keep saying what’s wrong. That’s fine but that’s over, so how are we going to correct it?” said Rennie. “I think it’s idea generation ... it’s finding voices that are interested in the common good.”

The Meet the Makers Expo is a oneday event organized by the Strathcona Business Improvemen­t Associatio­n (SBIA). It takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MakerLabs, 780 East Cordova.

The free event encourages the public to get to know the largely industrial community and the businesses that call the area home.

Local food and beer will be served, while area businesses and artists engage with the public in interactiv­e workshops and demonstrat­ions.

Rennie, whose Rennie Marketing Systems worked on condo project Strathcona Village, will moderate a public discussion with the area’s entreprene­urs, stakeholde­rs and community members as part of the day’s events.

Among the ideas he hopes will be up for discussion include how to make use of the industrial space that Strathcona is known for in a sustainabl­e way, and how to keep the “fabric and the content of the community” intact while new developmen­ts go up down the street.

One suggestion Rennie hopes to bring forward is revisiting the idea of laneway businesses in Strathcona.

“My job as a facilitato­r is to drop those pebbles in the pond and see where those conversati­ons go.”

Joji Kumagai is the executive director of the SBIA, and has been with the group for six years.

He hopes Saturday’s Meet the Makers Expo will serve two purposes.

“One is to continuall­y inform the public about the types of interestin­g and thriving local businesses we have here,” said Kumagai. “Because it’s an industrial nature, sometimes they get lost under the radar a little bit and we want to make sure people have a chance to understand the business here.”

The other goal is to ensure the area’s businesses, residents and stakeholde­rs each have a voice and can openly discuss plans for the neighbourh­ood.

“Because there’s a lot of change happening as a community, we want to make sure we have a chance to get the neighbourh­ood together,” said Kumagai, calling Saturday’s event a “launching point.”

“We’re hoping that people have an increased awareness of what’s happening in Strathcona. We’re not suggesting that we have all the answers of how change should unfold, but we want to use this as a forum to initiate that.”

Designer Toby Barratt is one of three principals with Propellor Design, a multi-disciplina­ry design firm based in Strathcona that has had a hand in projects across North America. As a Strathcona resident, Barratt acknowledg­ed that a revitaliza­tion of the neighbourh­ood has both its perks and challenges.

“Suddenly, there’s all these great restaurant­s and breweries and pubs to go to — it just adds to the pleasure of living in the city,” Barratt said.

“But there’s definitely concerns for us, too, as the neighbourh­ood changes.”

For tickets and more informatio­n on the expo, visit strathcona­bia.com/events/meet-the-makersexpo/

 ?? DAVID RIGLER/PNG ?? Designer Toby Barratt, who lives and works in Strathcona, says revitaliza­tion of the Vancouver neighbourh­ood has both its perks and challenges for residents and businesses.
DAVID RIGLER/PNG Designer Toby Barratt, who lives and works in Strathcona, says revitaliza­tion of the Vancouver neighbourh­ood has both its perks and challenges for residents and businesses.

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