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“If they have concerns about their leases or how they’re being treated, they have no one to talk to,” she said. “They’re afraid to stand up to CMHC for fear their leases won’t be renewed.”

She questioned the independence of the new council. “For CMHC to be in charge of the nominating committee, it’s still a situation where they’re in control.”

But CMHC Granville Island public affairs manager Lisa Ono said CMHC has been “tremendously supportive of the arts community on Granville Island” and recognizes it as key to the island’s success.

Ono took issue with the notion that Granville Island is in a period of decline, calling it “a time of positive change.” She said three long-term tenants retired over the past year, and their spaces were offered to new artists as short-term rentals to try out their business models.

CMHC also offers below-market rents to more than 50 artists and studios, ranging from $6.50 per square foot to $18 per square foot, and recently invested $1.7 million to upgrade arts and culture spaces.

One of the two vacant Emily Carr buildings is being taken over by Arts Umbrella, while the other will be transformed into a multi-tenant “arts and innovation hub” over several years.

“In terms of the council, the new governance structure will actually give more authority to community members,” said Ono. The council is open to members of the public and the nominating committee is not made up of CMHC employees, with the exception of the general manager. The two CMHC appointments to the committee are necessary to provide “not direction, but information and updates informed by the 2040 plan.”

Ono said the discontent being expressed by some people is not “pervasive” across the community. “Granville Island is thriving,” she said.

gluymes@postmedia.com

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