Revolutionizing the Vancouver skyline

In 1980, Peter Y. L. Eng's Allied Holdings sparked a trend in property development in Vancouver after he built Alberni Place, the first highrise residential complex in the city's central business district.

More than 20 years later, downtown Vancouver has become famous not only for its towering skyline but also for its reputation as one of the most attractive and livable places in North America.

When he immigrated to Vancouver 40 years ago, Eng, like so many Hong Kong Chinese, was attracted by Canada's stable business environment, well-developed infrastructure and abundant natural resources.

He could have picked many other cities as his home base but decided on Vancouver because it was "a Western city with a strong Asian flavor."

When Eng built his first tower, condominium style living was something new and locals were not too excited about living in the heart of the city.

Since then, the trend of living and working downtown has picked up and it became popular enough for Allied Holdings to launch its second tower in 1992. That project, consisting of 185 apartments, sold out in a single afternoon after attracting 3,000 people to its sales center.

"Sometimes outsiders can bring something to the table, some new ideas about doing things that can work," explained Eng.

Eng continues to develop residential towers and hotels in Canada. He is building a 330-unit condominium tower in Toronto in partnership with a large local developer, and also owns and manages hotel properties.

Although Eng displays an innovative approach to property development, he is also deeply committed to the preservation of heritage properties.

Allied Holdings took the initiative of dedicating two buildings that it owned in Vancouver as officially listed heritage properties, one of which was the Hotel Georgia, the city's first major hotel.

The other was a 1920s bank building that Allied Holdings donated to a university to house its international conference center.

In addition to being an active chairman of his own company, Eng spends time on community service and serves on local government bodies and university boards.

"It is very important for people, especially for immigrants, to play an active role in the community in which they have chosen to live," said Eng.

www.alliedhotels.com

(China Daily 11/13/2007 page26)