301 replies to this topic

[dkuitu]

Pandora now has almost no tents pitched. I walk down here a couple times a week to go to save on foods and I have noticed a major change in the last month. There are signs saying no blocking the pathways. Last week there were signs that say no tenting. It appears that the police are actually enforcing these things which is absolutely mind blowing to see after three years of neglect. Nice to see my tax payer dollars are actually doing something.

 

It looks like the rental building has about 3 or 4 stories to go until it's topped out.

I'm looking forward to seeing the grass grow back. I'm almost tempted to go in there with a shuffle hoe and some seed.

Edited by dkuitu, 31 October 2024 - 03:32 PM.

[Mike K.]

That’s incredible to see.

Was it always just that easy?

[dkuitu]

Another thing worth noting. They removed that little bench area next to the tax services office. More grass.

Personally I think they should move the footpath to the very edge of the road. Make it twice as wide and add better lighting and garbage bins, seating, bike locks, etc.

 

[Matt R.]

That’s incredible to see.

Was it always just that easy?

Mike, when I was in town last week I wasn’t kidding when I said it hasn’t looked this good in years. There was a pocket of folks smoking and whatever outside of McDonald’s but only a dozen or so. No tents, but there appears to be some sort of treatment centre compound there now, consisting of a portable office building and a chain link fence. Barely even any litter.

Few smashed windows around and some dodgy looking construction.

[Mike K.]

I was in town as well, and Douglas between View and Yates never looked as bad.

It’s too early to know what impact clearing out Pandora has had in a broader sense.

[corvus]

Does anyone know where those folks went? Like has there been an new shelter or treatment facility opened?

[Matt R.]

I was in town as well, and Douglas between View and Yates never looked as bad.

It’s too early to know what impact clearing out Pandora has had in a broader sense.

I noticed the couple weeks prior when I was over everything looked noticeably better, too.

I took that walk you suggested that same day, that whole block hasn’t looked as good to me in a long time. Few homeless but nobody laying about on the siedewalk. Evidence of someone sleeping outside of McDonald’s, couple smashed windows and a bus shelter. I know, I know, not great, but for someone who only comes downtown every month or even less lately it was immediately noticeable.

[dkuitu]

That’s incredible to see.

Was it always just that easy?

 

Law enforcement enforcing rules. What a concept!

[Mike K.]

I noticed the couple weeks prior when I was over everything looked noticeably better, too.

I took that walk you suggested that same day, that whole block hasn’t looked as good to me in a long time.

Good lord.

Then how bad was it?

[Matt R.]

Worse! I did take some photos of that block, no problems. One guy with a couple crutches, nothing else really.

Maybe I was there earlier than you?

[Mike K.]

Maybe. I was there late afternoon. Four people in separate groups smoking drugs just along Douglas. Rounding the corner, more were smoking drugs. Round the corner again onto Broad, every alcove had people in it down the block towards the vacancies near View. Crazy.

[Matt R.]

The couple weeks before I was over and downtown by 930-10 am and it was a ghost town. Hardly any people sleeping in door ways, hardly anyone at all actually.

Just 50 city works jobs in various states of completeness.

[Mike K.]

Yes, it’s eerily quiet in the mornings. Things pick up as the day goes on but it’s not what it used to be.

[Matt R.]

I just wonder if some folks shuffled back downtown between when I was there and you were.

The contrast from my visits over the last several years was huge.

[Mike K.]

Maybe you’ve grown desensitized to smashed windows and people smoking fentanyl on the high street?

[Matt R.]

No it’s the opposite. I was expecting “the usual” and shocked to not see it.

[Mike K.]

What’s the usual, in addition to smashed windows and people smoking meth in front of Shoppers?

How bad was it actually, if what we’re seeing today is an improvement?

[Matt R.]

The usual would be tents and blood spray up and down pandora by the conservatory, people passed out etc on the sidewalk up and down Douglas between fort and fisgard and a huge cluster by McDonald’s on view. Nada, aside from the cluster of a dozen or so by the pandora McDonald’s and whatever temporary looking support facility they have there.

[Mike K.]

Ok, that's pretty detailed.

 

We'll have to organize a VV field outing.

[dkuitu]

It looks like the building is just about topped out. Just the two top stories to go.