Community update

Dear Friend, 

This week, we want to talk about who actually owns the building at 900 Helmcken.

The site the Province wants to use for the OPS is owned by Solterra Development Corp, one of BC's best-known luxury developers. If the name sounds familiar, it's because they're behind some of the most sought-after condos and restaurants/hotels (Ancora, Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar, Cibo Trattoria, Moda Hotel) in Vancouver, Burnaby, and White Rock, including buildings just like the ones many of us live and work in.

Here's what makes that hard to swallow. Just recently, Solterra was celebrating an award for Monaco, their high-rise in White Rock. In their own words:

"Solterra has a long history of delivering award-winning residences across our communities, each thoughtfully designed to maximize views, indoor-outdoor living, and timeless luxury... our penthouses continue to set the benchmark for elevated West Coast living."

Timeless luxury. Elevated living. Thoughtfully designed communities.

So here's our question: would Solterra put an overdose prevention site at the front door of Monaco? It seems the standards Solterra sells to their own residents somehow don't apply to ours.

If that doesn't sit right with you, the most powerful thing you can do this week is let Solterra hear from you directly. Visit their LinkedIn and Instagram, and share your thoughts. Feel free to use your own words, or borrow ours:

“I live and work near 900 Helmcken, and I'm urging Solterra not to let this building be used for an overdose prevention site. You hold yourselves to a high standard for your own residents. Please extend that same care to ours.”

A few more ways to help:

• Forward this to one neighbour who lives or works near Helmcken Street and ask them to post too
• Send us any photos or videos of activity at the site — neighbours900helmcken@gmail.com
• If you haven't joined our mailing list yet, take a second to sign up so you don't miss what's next: https://crystal351639.typeform.com/to/avkBIGnN

Talk soon, 

Neighbours of 900 Helmcken