By now most of you know that the rezoning of 75 East 8th Ave, our homes at Myron Manor, passed. The ABC majority on Council voted in favour of the rezoning that would see our homes destroyed for a 21-storey extended stay hotel.

This decision comes after a public hearing that lasted close to 13 hours, with over 300 people signing up to speak. The overwhelming majority of speakers opposed the proposed hotel project put forward by asset management firms Nicola Wealth and Lotus Capital Corp. Thank you to everyone who participated. By lending your support for the Myron Manor Collective during the hearings, it gives us the strength to continue this fight.

During deliberation, opposition councillors echoed the concerns of speakers by citing displacement and the loss of affordable housing that would be created by this project. But the ABC majority moved in silence and unity to approve this rezoning. Not one ABC Vancouver councillor provided reasons for their support of the application. These results should be expected, but the cruelty of not even caring to comment on evicting so many people from their homes still felt shocking.

ABC Vancouver’s support for this rezoning occurred immediately after they opposed the controversial Villages Plan, which also saw hundreds of people speak at the public hearing. A statement on ABC Vancouver’s official Instagram account on the following Tuesday afternoon reads: 

“We believe Vancouver needs more housing—but it must be done thoughtfully. That means adding homes where they make sense while respecting existing neighbourhoods and the people who have worked hard and invested their lives into their homes.” 

This respect for existing neighbourhoods and the people who live in them does not seem to extend to the tenants of 75 East 8th Ave. 

“You could have brought all of Vancouver. When it came to the vote, it’s like they didn’t hear anything we said.” - Myron Manor Collective Member, Simon.

It is noteworthy that ABC Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung has previously held a senior executive role with Destination Vancouver, and has attended their yearly holiday luncheon events during her City Council tenure. Destination Vancouver is the hotel industry lobby group responsible for the idea that Vancouver is facing a hotel room supply crisis, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Kirby-Yung did not declare a conflict of interest and voted in favour of the rezoning of 75 East 8th Ave. 

While City staff and supporters of the project referenced Nicola Wealth’s supposedly going above and beyond for the tenants at Myron Manor, we know that this is not true. There is no justification for increasing billions dollars in investment holdings by evicting working class people. Our lives will be forever impacted by the increased cost of rent or the need to leave the City and support systems. 

City Hall might have always been a farce. After reflecting on the outpouring of support from the neighbourhood and council’s decision, MMC member Will said it felt like “just a show, to make it legal.” The fast tracking of the rezoning prior to the election –– months before we were initially told it would go to council –– points to a deficit of democracy. But what was gained was the support and attention for the continued fight ahead. 

This is far from over, and it will take all the public pressure we built over the hearing in July to demand that Myron Manor is here to stay. We cannot rely on a weak democracy to defend our rights, we must push for what is necessary regardless of what they tell us is a done deal. Stay tuned for what’s to come.