Quote:
Originally Posted by logicbomb
Feels like Downtown Vancouver peaked between 2009-2012. Robson had many more higher end retail and boutique shops along with diverse food options. Granville and Gastown was massively better as well. You always had elements
The homelessness, drug crisis and then COVID really destroyed the downtown retail and restaurant scene. Businesses have to put up with some ridiculous nonsense including constant thefts and vandalism. Non chain restaurants and smaller retailers cannot handle increasing rents along with insurance costs and are moving out of the downtown core.
I also feel like the region has shifted away from the concentric city model. You are seeing many hubs popping along the major transit lines which are incorporating restaurants and retail outlets. There's less of an appeal of commuting to the core of downtown to experience the scene.
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All true.
I think this suburban hub model isn't that great. A lot of them just have the same old stuff and it is almost like people are living in smaller, more suburban cities. If Vancouver had developed more along the fringes of downtown (e.g. East Van density in place of Burnaby or Surrey) it might have been more interesting. It would be one thing if Vancouver were some megacity that needed these hubs but they're being built mainly because people didn't want density and infrastructure in the areas where it would have grown organically.
The drug and street disorder problem is just bad and will cause damage as it persists. Even in nice areas you see brand new developments and if there's a seating area there will be homeless people on drugs there with puke all around them. I hesitated to go to one place near where I lived a while ago because every second or third time a woman would start screaming at me. I feel bad for the TFWs who got hired to work in these places.
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