Drug store expansion OK’d

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/12/2011 (5064 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than 100 people crammed into the spectators’ gallery at Winnipeg City Hall on Wednesday evening to hear a zoning board decision on the fate of two Osborne Village institutions.

None of them liked the final decision.

“Shame!” gallery members yelled after the unanimous approval of a change that likely spells the end of Vietnamese restaurant Vi-Ann and Movie Village — a staple in the neighbourhood since 1984 — and allows Shoppers Drug Mart to expand over the three properties.

The presentations included an emotional plea from Vi-Ann restaurant owner Bac Bui and his wife, who both wore white head gear as part of the Vietnamese tradition of mourning. Bui’s mother’s funeral took place Wednesday before the zoning hearing.

“I will walk out with nothing. I can’t believe they throw me out,” said Bui. “But I am so lucky to get support from the area; 2,000 people have signed the petition.”

Though the board implored those in attendance at the outset “not to make this emotional” and not to “delve into individual tenant issues,” many speakers argued changing the makeup of the Village is an inherently emotional issue and the expansion would set a dangerous development precedent in the unique neighbourhood they call home.

“It’s a bit dismissive to tell us to ‘keep emotions out of this,’ ” said gallery member Stefan Oystryk. “(The board has) to realize that all of these people care about the cultural diversity and local business perspective of the area. It’s a renowned neighbourhood.

“There’s a saying I think applies to the vision of projects like these,” he continued. “Winnipeg: striving for mediocrity and coming up short.”

Many in attendance argued the proposal goes against the Osborne Village Neighbourhood Plan — a bylaw that was passed by the city in 2007 “to provide policies to ensure that future development respects and reinforces what makes Osborne Village unique.”

The bylaw sets out to protect and reinforce the pedestrian nature of the area, its character and “sense of place that makes Osborne Village what it is.”

The document foreshadows what many believe has now happened, citing concerns of “emerging pressures by larger-format retailers and chain franchises to locate in the area in a manner that challenges the predominantly pedestrian urban form and character.”

A spokeswoman from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tammy Smitham, told the Free Press the pharmacy chain is not going against provisions in the bylaw and maintained the expansion has the community in mind.

“We’re not a big-box store,” she argued.

“I wouldn’t classify our stores as a big-box retailer; we’re a fraction of the size of something like Home Depot or Walmart.”

The Shoppers location is looking to expand to 14,000 square feet from 7,600 square feet, and would include parking and an enclosed walkway to the nearby Safeway.

Smitham explained the second floor of the development would also have 5,000 square feet of leasable space that could be made available for the tenants in Vi-Ann or Movie Village to rent.

“The landlord is actually interested in selling (their building),” she continued. “That’s how this deal’s being done.”

A lawyer for the building owner who is dealing with Shoppers also made a statement before the gallery, noting the lease for the Vi-Ann restaurant expires June 30, 2012.

He argued “a silent majority” in the neighbourhood wants to see the expansion project go through — a statement that got laughs from the people in the gallery.

Shoppers Drug Mart representative Misty Carson then argued the store’s expansion would “enhance the urban village feel through the design” by including historical montages of the ‘Old Village’ on the windows looking onto the street.

“I find it insulting that Shoppers would memorialize the ‘Old Village’ on their windows,” countered Oystryk.

“If it’s so great, why the heck are they trying to replace it?”

With the official approval of Winnipeg district planner Michael Robinson, the city has stated it believes this plan is “compatible with the area in which the property to be affected is situated.”

Robinson told the Free Press before the board meeting that it conforms to city bylaws and the “administrative recommendation is to support the project.”

the case will be appealed at the city’s appeals committe on Jan. 11.

laura.beeston@freepress.mb.ca