By Leah Bjornson,
Special to The Post
 
Pall Beesla has called the Punjabi Market area of Vancouver home his whole life. But the area is changing rapidly given Vancouver's sky-rocketing property market with new developments looking to re-shape Main Street and its past.
 
A new plan for the southwest corner of Main Street and 49th Avenue is calling for re-development of the property currently occupied by All India Restaurant.
 
Orr Development, who has owned the property at that site for 60 years, has applied to the city to change the zoning classification of 6507–6541 Main Street from commercial (C-2) to comprehensive development (CD-1).
 
The plan is to replace the current buildings with a six-story, mixed-use building, which would include 75 homes and commercial space at street level.
 
“Fortunately there’s opportunity for renewal, but unfortunately there hasn’t been a lot of dialogue with the community groups in order to envision that new phase,” said Beesla, who is on the temple committee at Ross Street Gurdwara where his mandate included addressing community causes.

Beesla noted the recent development of Vancouver’s historic Chinatown and the potential rezoning of the 105 Keefer site from a historic area to a development district. His concern, like that of many South Asians in the neighbourhood, is that any City Hall approved design will not adequately incorporate and acknowledge the rich history of the Punjabi Market into the new design.
 
Punjabi Market earned its name in the 1970s following the mass influx of Indian emigrants into South Vancouver. At its apex, the market was a commercial centre where South Asian families purchased their weekly grocery supplies, along with other goods such as Indian suits and saris, housewares, and jewelry. The two block high street market on Main Street, between 49th to 51st streets, bustled with activity each weekend with parking spots often proving next to impossible to find. 

Located nearby, Ross Street Temple is the largest Sikh temple in Western Canada. It's annual Vaisakhi Day Parade runs through the heart of Punjabi Market.

However, in recent years, many of the market's businesses have relocated to Surrey where most new South Asian residents are settling these days. This has reduced the area’s draw as the Lower Mainland focal point of South Asian commerce.
 
In 2013, both Wescana Fashions and Mohan Cloth House held closing-out sales in anticipation of shutting their doors after 25 years in business. According to the owners, high rent costs made it difficult for them to remain open.
 
“It’s very difficult to survive,” Ali Rajani, who owned Wescana Fashions, said in an interview with The Langara Voice.
 
“We’ve had a vacancy of 50 per cent in that building, and no one has called us. No one has even wanted to move into the area,” Tim Orr, the Development Manager at Orr Development, told The South Asian Post. Because of this, he says now is the perfect time to revamp this historic area of Vancouver.
 
Orr expressed his hopes for the new development: “Having some new fresh businesses there, [. . .] having more people live in the area, supporting our local businesses is the best thing we can hope for.”
 
Since hosting an open house in late October, Orr says that the company is trying to find ways to incorporate the area’s history in the construction of the building. While plans are still being finalized, he estimates that this will likely take the form of a public art project or the incorporation of ornamental designs and patterns in the building.
 
“We want to tip our hats to the history of the neighbourhood,” said Orr. “It’s just a matter of what will it be.”
 
While new development in the area is cause for excitement, according to Beesla, he says that it must be handled correctly.
 
“I’m optimistic, but I’m also cautious,” said Beesla. Referencing the current revitalization of Chinatown, Beesla is concerned that without due process, the City and the developers will effectively “whitewash” Vancouver's historic areas. “There’s nothing officially required for artistic or historical preservation,” he commented.
 
While he acknowledges the decline of the area in recent years, Beesla, like others who grew up in South Vancouver, is committed to saving what’s left.
 
“Maintaining the identity of Punjabi Market is important to the community and the entire city as a whole, so that the diversity of the city is celebrated and included,” Beesla said. “If the key historic areas such as Punjabi Market and Chinatown are not preserved, the city’s landscape will become homogeneous to the extent where there will be no history left to celebrate.”
 
Beesla encouraged concerned members of the public to submit any comments they have directly to Vancouver City Hall.

For more information on the rezoning application for 6507-6541 Main Street, go to www.former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/rezoning/applications and click on M for Main Street.