Rules get in the way: Another push to revive dying Vancouvers Chinatown Plaza underway – BC [Video]

It’s a plan that’s been on the community’s wish list for years and Vancouver Chinatown business leaders are once again pushing to revitalize a largely vacant and neglected city-owned space in the heart of the neighbourhood.

CoqouDak owner Jimmy Cho moved his Korean fried chicken restaurant into Chinatown Plaza on Keefer Street in January and said business has been slowly growing since.

“I would love to see more tenants move into the plaza cause it would drive more foot traffic into the plaza,” Cho said Thursday. “Plus it will create more business for me as well.”

Area merchants said Chinatown Plaza’s opening in 1995 marked a victory – with a retail concourse, street-level shops, offices, health care, the 1,000-seat Chinese restaurant Floata, and a seven-storey parkade – all in a city-owned property.

“It’s heartbreaking to see this space slowly deteriorate over time,” said Ross Lam with the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants …