listed for sale at $12.8 million has sparked many racist comments, including a threatening email against the realtors who listed the property.

The house, located at 587 Vancouver Avenue, listed by Kevin Chen and Matt Zhang from Vancouver-based Oakwyn Realty, has been on the market for almost a year now.

However, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 until the home was featured by the online Vancouver news publication Daily Hive that Chen and Zhang began to draw the ire of some locals.

Since the Daily Hive story ran in December 2020, Chen and Zhang have been subject to a slew of racist and hateful comments and remarks from Penticton locals.

In one case, an email sent directly to Chen Saturday, April 24, suggested that he 害羞草研究所渟hould be shot,害羞草研究所� alleged he was involved in money laundering and threatened 害羞草研究所渄ire consequences害羞草研究所� should he not return to China.

Chen, who grew up in Canada and is originally from Taiwan, said he was taken aback by the email but not shocked considering the amount of anti-Asian racism seen in Canada recently.

Chen reported the email to the Penticton RCMP but so far no progress has been made on contacting the person who made the threats, according to Zhang. The Western News has reached out to the Penticton RCMP for more information but, has not yet received a response.

Zhang, who has also lived in Canada his entire life, said the email is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the racist and hateful sentiments they害羞草研究所檝e had thrown at them since the Daily Hive story ran.

The racism is particularly perplexing to Zhang considering the home害羞草研究所檚 current owner is a Caucasian, Canadian man.

害羞草研究所淲e were just selected to list the house for him and ever since we listed it, if you look at the comments on the Daily Hive story, it害羞草研究所檚 been all racist comments,害羞草研究所� Zhang said.

Zhang also noted that as realtors he and Chen are obligated to verify they are not dealing with potential money launderers through the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.

害羞草研究所淎t the end of the day, we害羞草研究所檙e just the agents who are listing it. The owner is Canadian and we have verified the source. The client wanted to sell his dream home, and we害羞草研究所檙e here to market it to our best ability, it害羞草研究所檚 as simple as that,害羞草研究所� Zhang said.

Anti-Asian racism has been on the rise in Canada since the start of the pandemic. In Vancouver, police data shows anti-Asian hate crimes have risen by 717 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

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害羞草研究所淓ven since COVID, the surging racism in Vancouver and Canada has been insane,害羞草研究所� Zhang said. 害羞草研究所淗onestly, at first, I just feel bad for those people (who make racist comments).

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like 害羞草研究所榳hat did someone from my race do to you to make you assume all these terrible things about us?害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 just so unnecessary.害羞草研究所�

Zhang said he understands if the property isn害羞草研究所檛 for everyone.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 overkill but in the best ways possible, but if you think it害羞草研究所檚 too much just say that. Not everyone thinks the Mona Lisa is beautiful and that害羞草研究所檚 okay.

When you start bringing race into it and all these negative stigmas toward a certain race and just assuming that this person is Chinese and has dirty, laundered money, that害羞草研究所檚 where you cross the line害羞草研究所� you害羞草研究所檙e just assuming those things because it害羞草研究所檚 expensive.害羞草研究所�

The house is described as being 害羞草研究所渕ore like a boutique hotel than a residential home害羞草研究所� and features seven patios spanning over 2,500 square feet, over $1 million worth of marble, over $1 million of custom furniture and an emerald green marble garage with a custom vehicle turntable.

害羞草研究所淲ith 587 Vancouver Avenue, you害羞草研究所檙e not only purchasing a property, you害羞草研究所檙e buying a landmark, an architectural masterpiece with a priceless view,害羞草研究所� reads the.

The home has received international recognition, including being one of the front runners for 2020害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渂est luxury property international害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渂est luxury property Canada害羞草研究所� by the U.K.-based Design El Al Awards magazine.

害羞草研究所淓verything in this house is designed with a level of detail that I害羞草研究所檝e never seen in Canada,害羞草研究所� Zhang said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 one of those houses you really have to visit and see in person in order to appreciate it.害羞草研究所�

To see more pictures and find out more about the property at 587 Vancouver Ave., visit the website for the listing at .

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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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