1257 replies to this topic

[G-Man]

Remember my bus tunnel article? Well I am completely redesigning Douglas Street again. Have a read and let me know your thoughts.

 

https://www.sidewalk...reet-reimagined

[G-Man]

New article up this morning. This time looking at downtown Victoria and the challenges with having less office workers. But also what we can start doing about it.

 

https://www.sidewalk...and-the-stopgap

[Mike K.]

Excellent, excellent recap of the situation, G.

I would like to add that for those of us who do not visit downtown regularly, it has also become very dirty and feels unkempt. It may not appear to someone that way, if they see it daily, but when you are removed from the core and see it once or twice a month the level of upkeep has greatly eroded compared to a decade ago. Downtown should shine, in every way, like you see in the CBDs around the world (even in less wealthy countries, the downtown cores tend to be well kept).

And you’re right, the population of downtown remains very small, despite the development. You can’t sustain a downtown centre home to well below 10,000 people, when every day the downtown core would ballon to 75,000 people, maybe even 100,000. The CoV itself doubles in size every day, no?

Furthermore, residents have different needs than do workers or visitors to a downtown, which dictates their shopping habits.

[Victoria Watcher]

You can’t sustain a downtown centre home to well below 10,000 people, 

 

Especially when nearly 2,000 of the downtown or near-downtown residents are homeless.  Nearly 1 out of every 5 downtown residents has a substance and/or mental health issue.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 March 2023 - 07:37 AM.

[Mike K.]

I was going to say, that that’s what I mean for residents having different needs for the commercial services downtown.

Your average resident downtown is not a high income earner. But traditionally downtown businesses were geared for high income earners, now that’s changing as high income earners look elsewhere/don’t want to come downtown.

Look at the biggest/most notable business openings downtown in recent years: Bulk Barn, Dollarama, and Winners.

[Nparker]

I have lived downtown or at least very close to downtown for the past 31 years (the furthest away being the Cook Street Village). For most of those 3 decades I was required to be in a downtown office a minimum of 4 days of each week. As a result, my co-workers/friends and I spent money in a lot of local businesses. Now that I am retired I still live downtown, but I spend far less time frequenting nearby establishments. Even the grocery shopping I do at the nearby Save-on-Foods is just supplementing a weekly stock-up at the Uptown Walmart. There is currently nothing about the "heart" of the city that makes me want to spend any more than the barest amount of time in it. I am not sure what the solution is, but I know the answer won't come from just an increased downtown population.

[Mike K.]

Is it the traffic violence that’s keeping you from shopping downtown?

[Victoria Watcher]

Is it the traffic violence that’s keeping you from shopping downtown?

 

[G-Man]

Thanks Mike! Obviously it is striking a cord as my numbers are super high today.

[Victoria Watcher]

Chord.

[G-Man]

Thanks 👍

[aastra]

 

Your average resident downtown is not a high income earner.

 

Downtown is full of ultra-luxurious condos and apartments that nobody can afford because they're far too expensive and people are far too poor.

[aastra]

 

I am not sure what the solution is, but I know the answer won't come from just an increased downtown population.

 

People could return to normal work, normal lives, and some semblance of grounded sanity? The CoV could stop pooping in its own bed? Just throwing some ideas out there.

[Barrrister]

Increasing evening parking costs rally makes me want to rush downtown. But I guess I can rush down to view the closed Bateman center or the half closed museum or the mostly closed marine museum. Perhaps a stroll down Pandora or onto the streets like Government or Douglas that are starting to mirror Douglas. 

[Sparky]

We did a little "sidewalking" downtown this past Sunday and low and behold there was some vibrant activity on a closed off portion of Government Street. While strolling down Yates we heard "the sound of a jukebox coming from up the levee". 

 

It turned out to be a band set up on a stage in the middle of the street playing "Goodbye Nova Scotia". 

 

 

There were lots of people shopping at the little stands that were set up. I assume they were mostly vendors that usually hawk their wares in Bastion Square during the summer.

 

 

 

There was also some slides for the wee ones.

 

 

On the way back to the car however, we came across "Toxic Tom" as I call him. A spray paint artist that spreads his shop on a tarp on the sidewalk on Douglas street. You can breathe the toxic spray paint clear down to View St. and beyond. I wonder if he has a "busker's" license for that spot?

 

[todd]

Is it the traffic violence that’s keeping you from shopping downtown?

back in the old days used to skip school/whatnot and go downtown all kinds of neat shops with stuff you couldn’t get anywhere else, now most of the unique shops are gone new ones not opening up. I blame the Internet over anything we just don’t have the population to keep them going anymore but there are other compounding factors. Really no good reason to go downtown anymore other than to look at architecture, which I do appreciate.

[G-Man]

Great post Sparky! I should have gone down there to have a look. 

 

As for your post Todd, I disagree to an extent though it may come down to personal interests. Currently Downtown is home to an amazing selection of unique independent stores. I would say per capita we are kicking Vancouver's butt. I mean I get pretty excited thinking about Camera Traders, Regional Assembly of Text, Anian, Outlook, The Papery, Russel Books... I could go on but I am needing to go shopping!

[todd]

^ https://www.russellbooks.com/

[Nparker]

I searched for a book on Russell's website last night and discovered that I can get it faster and cheaper through Amazon. Sorry downtown Victoria. 

[todd]

^Russell on Amazon: https://www.amazon.c...asin=0735211299