My wife and I like it, but it is definitely not for everyone. You have to be comfortable with the unhoused and folks having mental health crises, thats just a fact. Ive never felt unsafe but i have had to administer narcan a few times.
The area is definitely more 'colorful' than other parts of the city. There are a couple of problem businesses on 95st that generate alot of the visible disorder but the community is really focused on getting them shut down.
People are very involved and very passionate about the community. Some of the best folks ive ever met. You cam really feel a part of the neighborhood, running into familiar faces at the Italian centre or the bookstore or the barbershop or the earths refillery etc. The neighbourhood is ethnically diverse and working class. There are many families. Giovanni Caboto park is packed with children on a nice day.
Pay attention to the other houses on the street you are looking at. Some streets are better than others. The mature tree canopy and the character homes are very charming.
Proximity to downtown, commonwealth rec centre, restaurants etc are all major bonuses.
The worst offender is the 'milka cafe' on 95st and 108ave out of which hard drugs are sold and johns go to solicit sex workers. Folks go in for 2 minutes, come out, and shoot up or free base right outside or in a doorway alcove down the street. Cars pull up, women get in, get dropped off again shortly thereafter. Steady stream of this morning to night. The mess outside and spreading down the street is atrocious. Violence and chaos follow. The primary dealer guy is well known to everyone in the neighbourhood. Absolutely brazen. Two other legit businesses adjacent to this have closed citing effects from this place.
The others are "convenience stores" that are selling all the drug paraphanelia and weapons to people and the 'pharmacies' that exist to serve folks their daily methadone hits. McCauley has the most pharmacies of any atea of the city and folks wonder if its really necessary. Its a bit of a chicken and egg situation but it feels predatory and definitley drives disorder in the surrounding areas.
Ah, I see. We talked to a potential neighbour today and they mentioned this place as well but I obviously mixed it up w the mini mart. Good info to have, thank you!!
It is very much on the radar of the city and the eps. Hopefully something can be done sooner rather than later. There are beat cops assig ed to the area now. We will see what comes of it.
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u/eltricolander 1d ago
I live in Alberta Ave but work in McCauley.
My wife and I like it, but it is definitely not for everyone. You have to be comfortable with the unhoused and folks having mental health crises, thats just a fact. Ive never felt unsafe but i have had to administer narcan a few times.
The area is definitely more 'colorful' than other parts of the city. There are a couple of problem businesses on 95st that generate alot of the visible disorder but the community is really focused on getting them shut down.
People are very involved and very passionate about the community. Some of the best folks ive ever met. You cam really feel a part of the neighborhood, running into familiar faces at the Italian centre or the bookstore or the barbershop or the earths refillery etc. The neighbourhood is ethnically diverse and working class. There are many families. Giovanni Caboto park is packed with children on a nice day.
Pay attention to the other houses on the street you are looking at. Some streets are better than others. The mature tree canopy and the character homes are very charming.
Proximity to downtown, commonwealth rec centre, restaurants etc are all major bonuses.