Downtown Vancouver Updates

[delboy]

in recent years, I've become a lot more hopeful for the future of the DTES. As recently as two years ago, I felt that area was beyond salvation. Now I'm much more optimistic. The tide has began to turn, you can feel it. 100 block of west hastings has a much more mixed group wandering around now and I have started venturing down there after 15 plus years of avoiding the area.

There is much to be done, however. What has always been absent is a national component to homelessness. Every western country has a national approach to the issues surrounding homelessness. Where is ours? The Feds ought to be ashamed of themselves, have abandoned the plight of the DTES to the city and the province.

[flight_from_kamakura]

Originally Posted by duener

I've always wondered why developers haven't offered this sort of thing - bare bones condos. Surely they could built just concrete shells, like the original lofts in old warehouses, and let buyers build out their own interiors.

that's how it was when my family bought a bunch of units in china, literally just a shell, you put in the walls and everything.

[red-paladin]

I really hope we gentrify the hell out of the DTES.
I agree it is a self-perpetuating situation right now.
I think really there are some of the people there that should go to rehab, some to a mental hospital, some should get free jobs and housing and some should go to jail. Until they start dealing with the people that can't help themselves in a hard handed way, it will never be fixed.
I hate it that the government thinks it's terrible to tell people what to do or make people do things. If someone is on the street, a druggie, or a —, the state should step in and force them to rehab, housing, hospital or jail.
No one has a 'right' to a life of crime.

[trofirhen]

Terse, to the point. Well said.

[delboy]

this is an invetive approach to better affordability - the site is a parking lot at present next to the bourbon street pub on Corodva:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nati...-near-downtown-vancouver/article1651548/

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by delboy

in recent years, I've become a lot more hopeful for the future of the DTES. As recently as two years ago, I felt that area was beyond salvation. Now I'm much more optimistic. The tide has began to turn, you can feel it. 100 block of west hastings has a much more mixed group wandering around now and I have started venturing down there after 15 plus years of avoiding the area..

I agree, but it seems that some people have an entrenched interest in keeping it downtrodden. What we're seeing as revitalization, they're seeing as gentrification.

Its a fine balance. If too many of the disadvantaged are displaced, some other part of Metro will wind up as the new DTES. Any candidates?

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I agree, but it seems that some people have an entrenched interest in keeping it downtrodden. What we're seeing as revitalization, they're seeing as gentrification.

Its a fine balance. If too many of the disadvantaged are displaced, some other part of Metro will wind up as the new DTES. Any candidates?

That's true, unfortunately, and the problem seems to be moving eastward. Take a walk a few blocks east of Woodwards and beyond and it's the same old same old. When Lucky Can relocates, however, that area will really improve but the problem will move with LC. But at least there seems to be less marginalized people out on the streets than even a few years ago, at least from what I've been seeing while walking around the area.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by entheosfog

That's true, unfortunately, and the problem seems to be moving eastward. Take a walk a few blocks east of Woodwards and beyond and it's the same old same old. When Lucky Can relocates, however, that area will really improve but the problem will move with LC. But at least there seems to be less marginalized people out on the streets than even a few years ago, at least from what I've been seeing while walking around the area.

The problem with the DTES is the concentration of the "problem". What needs to happen to help integrate these people into society at large is to mix them in with the rest of society. Really, the city shouldn't create any more social housing there. Create it anywhere but the DTES.

On a related note, does anybody watch "The Beat", a documentary series about the VPD that patrol the DTES. Good show. I think it's on CityTV on Friday nights.

[giallo]

I just watched The Beat last night. I thought it was well done. The cops are pretty funny actually. I guess you'd have to be in order to deal with the grim realities of the DTES.

[bulliver]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

On a related note, does anybody watch "The Beat", a documentary series about the VPD that patrol the DTES. Good show. I think it's on CityTV on Friday nights.

I've watched a few episodes, it is on OLN in my parts. Found it very interesting, and all the officers featured seem pretty decent, though I get the impression they do a lot more 'herding' than anything else...

Some very nice helicopter shots of the city, too.

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The problem with the DTES is the concentration of the "problem". What needs to happen to help integrate these people into society at large is to mix them in with the rest of society. Really, the city shouldn't create any more social housing there. Create it anywhere but the DTES.

agree 100%!

[s211]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

The best way to accomplish that would be to build market housing, with a social component, as is required in any new development anyways. I'd much prefer a developer has to pay for people's social housing, then tax money drawn from the general population. Now you just have to convince people that they *want* to live down there. And to do that, you target the young yuppie crowd first who are likely to be more sympathetic to the plight of those in the area, and view it as an opportunity to gentrify the neighbourhood. It could be our own SoHo! Build relatively cheap housing (no marble and stainless steel everything), and open a few Starbucks and hand-made soap shops. Ta da!

Then, eventually, it will be a real neighbourhood and not a crack den, and you can build more high-end places and have the healthy income mix we see elsewhere.

BBZZZZZZZ. Wrong answer. Try again.

"The developer" doesn't pick up the cost of all of the "wanna haves" demanded by the city. These costs get added to the pro-forma, and the developer asks a higher end price from the ultimate purchasers.

And we wonder why housing is so expensive in Vancouver.

[nova9]

Canucks seeking a new practice rink in NEFC: http://www.vancouversun.com/Canucks+eyeing+practice+rink+False+Creek+area/3356126/story.html

Aquilini Investment Group, the team’s owner, is proposing to build a new ice rink and community centre on the former Expo lands in northeast False Creek at an estimated cost of between $20 million and $40 million

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Canucks+eyei...ek+area/3356126/story.html#ixzz0vcAU1AxL

[red-paladin]

That would fit well underneath / between the viaducts.

[flight_from_kamakura]

it's strange how we seem to have the exact same round of insight into the dtes every 4 months of so.

[Delirium]

i noticed last night that this whole thing does indeed light up. All the white panels were lit pink from behind. i didn't stand there long enough to see if it eventually changed but it looked cool.

[SpongeG]

nice any idea what it will be?

[Prometheus]

Cool. Now, if it can change colour and form dynamic, multi-coloured patterns, then that would be really cool.

[Delirium]

^ agreed.

so here's something fun. there are 5 finalist for "Canada's Top Bathroom" and there are 2 from Vancouver (Shangri-la and cactus club). there other 3 are in toronto.

vote for your favorite. http://www.bestrestroom.com/
Cactus club always does a great job on their washrooms.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by Delirium

^ agreed.

so here's something fun. there are 5 finalist for "Canada's Top Bathroom" and there are 2 from Vancouver (Shangri-la and cactus club). there other 3 are in toronto.

vote for your favorite. http://www.bestrestroom.com/
Cactus club always does a great job on their washrooms.

They should do check chill winston in gastown, crazy washroom