Society believes 'justice delayed, justice denied' for black community at Hogan's Alley

Randy Clark and June Francis meet at the corner of Main and Union Streets in Vancouver. Clark is a former Hogan's Alley Society member while Francis is currently the group's director. JASON PAYNE / POSTMEDIA

The group leading the revitalization work on Vancouver’s historic Hogan’s Alley claims the city has shattered its trust by delaying efforts to address injustices against the displaced black community. 

The city insists its commitment to redress hasn’t waned.

During the 1960s, the Hogan’s Alley community — a hub for black citizens in the Strathcona neighbourhood — was razed to make way for on-ramps to the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts. Black residents were scattered and left isolated across the city.

When city council voted to tear down the viaducts in 2015, black citizens organized a group to work with the city to involve the community in planning for the Northeast False Creek land. Some of them then formed the non-profit Hogan’s Alley Society to weigh in on the city’s award-winning Northeast False Creek plan, which contains specific policies to make redressing historical wrongs a guiding principal in the land’s development.

The highly-valued land, just steps from the edge of Chinatown, is believed to be sought by various interest groups....