Some Yaletown residents not happy with new neighbours
Posted October 1, 2014 9:53 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A group of Yaletown residents is voicing displeasure at plans to relocate Oppenheimer Park campers to shelters in the neighbourhood.
Given problems back in 2009 at a shelter under the Granville Street bridge, Erich Herchen with the Seymour Street Residents Association is worried new shelters at the former Kettle of Fish restaurant on Pacific Boulevard and the Quality Inn on Howe Street will bring the same issues.
“I’ve been in Vancouver for 10 years and I’m a homeowner and taxpayer, and I’m kind of disgusted by the city and how they download the problems, especially onto this area,” says Herchen.
That shelter under the Granville Street bridge was eventually shut down due to complaints of blatant drug use and aggressive panhandling.
“We had a lot of problems with our children feeling unsafe walking around,” Herchen says. “A lot of loitering, a lot of extra vandalism — and it was not done properly, it was not policed properly.”
Between the two shelters, Herchen is set to get over 200 new neighbours.
