If you are struggling, help is available
- US and Canada · call or text 988
- UK and Ireland · Samaritans, 116 123
- Australia · Lifeline, 13 11 14
- Anywhere else ·
findahelpline.com
lists services by country
This article mentions suicide or self-harm. These services are free and
confidential, and they are not connected to this site.
BC Housing has been operating a nearly empty SRO hotel in Vancouver's Granville Strip area at a cost of over $100,000 per month to taxpayers. Meanwhile, businesses such as SportCheck are closing due to reduced foot traffic and lack of government compensation for merchants affected by the Broadway Subway Project delays. Neil Wyles, executive director of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association, is questioning why Christine Boyle's ministry is spending so much on the SRO hotel when there is no money available for taxpayers in her riding. The Luugat hotel was purchased by BC Housing in 2020 for $55 million, which is higher than its current assessed value of approximately $27 million.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The B.C. government's decision to shut down a small business in Mount Pleasant, despite being told there would be no compensation, has raised concerns about its spending practices. SportCheck, a sports equipment store, is set to close due to declining foot traffic and revenue caused by the delayed Broadway Subway Project. Meanwhile, the SRO hotel, which was purchased by the government with the intention of creating supportive housing, remains open despite being nearly empty. The local Business Improvement Association (BIA) has expressed frustration at the government's lack of support for struggling businesses in the area. Housing Minister Christine Boyle, whose office is located across the street from SportCheck, has stated that there will be no compensation for merchants affected by the business closures. This decision has been criticized by urban planner and retired architect Michael Geller, who predicts that the government may lose about half of what it paid for the SRO hotel due to its low occupancy rate. The BIA's executive director, Neil Wyles, argues that this lack of compensation is a policy issue that can be changed, but the government has "dug in" and is using it as an excuse to do nothing.
Written for “Government vs Small Business Support” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
Because there is no compensation policy, they’re not doing anything here,”
right criticizing the government's lack of action
-
policy is just that, it can be changed. Governments change policies all the time, but they have dug in on this one and they’re using it as a shield, an excuse to do nothing.
right criticizing the government's rigidity
-
He also questioned why Boyle is allowing her ministry to spend more than $100,000 a month to operate an SRO building on Granville Street with one resident, but has no money for taxpayers in her riding.
right criticizing government spending
-
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the province will lose about half of what they paid for this property,”
right commenting on wasteful government spending
Leaning score +0.65 for article 1285 (high confidence, 4 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-21
The Broadway Subway Project has already caused business owners in the area to express frustration with long delays and declining revenue.
asserted
owners → cause → delays
Now, SportCheck has announced it is about to close its Mount Pleasant location and small family businesses dealing with reduced foot traffic are having a difficult time making ends meet.
asserted
ends → announce → time
The Business Improvement Association says it is a frustrating and common refrain.
asserted
it → say → ?
“Because there is no compensation policy, they’re not doing anything here,” Neil Wyles, the executive director of the Mount Pleasant BIA, said.
“And policy is just that, it can be changed.
asserted
it → be → BIA
Governments change policies all the time, but they have dug in on this one and they’re using it as a shield, an excuse to do nothing.”
asserted
they → change → nothing
The B.C. government has said there will be no compensation for these merchants.
asserted
government → say → merchants
Housing Minister Christine Boyle is the local MLA and her office is across the street from the closing SportCheck.
asserted
office → close → SportCheck
Get breaking National news
“These businesses are looking for a lifeline; they’re looking for some help; they’re not looking for handouts,” Wyles said.
asserted
Wyles → get → handouts
He also questioned why Boyle is allowing her ministry to spend more than $100,000 a month to operate an SRO building on Granville Street with one resident, but has no money for taxpayers in her riding.
asserted
ministry → question → riding
The Broadway Subway Project was originally slated to be finished in 2025, but will not be complete until 2027.
asserted
Project → slat → 2027
There are also questions about how much taxpayers paid for the Granville Strip SRO Hotel, which is still open a month and a half after the province promised to close it.
asserted
province → be → it
BC Housing bought the former Howard Johnson Hotel, now known as the Luugat, in 2020 for $55 million.
asserted
Housing → buy → million
At the time, the combined assessed value of the building and an adjacent parking lot included in the deal was $38.6 million.
asserted
value → assess → deal
Both sites are now assessed at approximately $27 million.
asserted
sites → assess → million
Urban planner and retired architect Michael Geller said governments often pay more than their properties are worth when they intend to create supportive housing.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the province will lose about half of what they paid for this property,” he said.
asserted
he → retire → property
“When I say the province is losing half, what I’m really saying is the taxpayers of British Columbia are losing half of what was spent on this building and that ignores all the other costs that have been associated with it over the years.”
asserted
that → say → years
Global News asked B.C.’s housing ministry why the Luugat purchase price was higher than its assessed value.
asserted
price → ask → value
The government said that B.C. Housing received an independent appraisal before purchasing and ended up buying the site for less than the appraised value, which it did not disclose.
asserted
it → say → which
