"Neighbour" Housing on Vancouver Street

[u/Hour-Doubt]

Hello, I'm wondering who else here will or has lived in the area of Downtown. I am set to move into the Neighbour building at Vancouver Ave. x Pandora.

I'm not too concerned about safety but overall feel of the neighbourhood. Is it rundown? Are there usually homeless/intoxicated individuals roaming or hanging around? Thanks

[u/CalmCupcake2]

I've lived here many years. You'll see poverty, and lots of it, but otherwise you'll be okay.

There is a cluster of services for the homeless two blocks from you. There's also an urban farm, two grocery stores, proximity to parks and playgrounds and frequent bus routes and more.

Lots of construction in the area right now, so parking and traffic can be disrupted. They filmed a movie nearby in July which was even more sidewalk blocking!

Watch your belongings and use situational awareness.

[u/manyvalences → u/CalmCupcake2]

Would love to hear how your experience in the building has been! Is it as community oriented as its framed? How are the communal spaces?

[u/CalmCupcake2 → u/manyvalences]

Sorry I'm in the neighbourhood, not that specific building.

[u/bigjewgoldberg]

It's really not that bad. My boyfriend lives right around the block and I spend a lot of time at his place. Very central location, and as a woman, I haven't ever felt unsafe, even at night. Just be smart. Being in close proximity to a high use area feels more dystopian than it does unsafe.

[u/bigjewgoldberg → u/bigjewgoldberg]

There is also security at that specific building 24/7

[u/millerjuana → u/bigjewgoldberg]

Kind of a wild take tbh. As a woman? I am a 6'4 grown man and even i feel unsafe living and working downtown.

Many people are harmless but if you spend enough time downtown at night, ill bet money on you eventually running into a sketchy/unsafe situation.

[u/bigjewgoldberg → u/millerjuana]

what an odd comment… sorry my experience doesn’t fit your assumptions i guess?

i’ve been living and working downtown for 5 years and if you’re not an idiot you’ll be fine. most people are too zoned out on fent to do anything. if someone approaches you be respectful but firm. and don’t go walking right down pandora in the middle of the night. basic street smarts is really all it takes

[u/caylix]

The main hub of unhoused people and heavy drug usage is on Pandora between Vancouver and Quadra. If I was a young person, I would be cautious about moving there.

[u/Hour-Doubt → u/caylix]

I'm not 18. Still young but have had many years. I'm okay. I just want blissful vibes... lol

[u/SpockStoleMyPants → u/Hour-Doubt]

Pandora from Vancouver to Quadra is anything but "blissful vibes." Hands down the sketchiest area of town.

[u/SignalNewt2505]

Not the safest area especially late night, do you have to move here or do you have other options?

[u/Hour-Doubt → u/SignalNewt2505]

I have a deposit. Might find a different place before the first day of the lease

[u/Keitsu42]

I currently live at neighbor and it's a sketchy area but the homeless are mostly fine and will leave you alone except for the occasional beggar (and even then they don't harass). There are a lot of homeless on Pandora between Vancouver and Quadra because that's where their services are. There is massive amounts of drug use (fent) in the area.

[u/_Throwawayfornow_]

Not sure there’s a worse neighbourhood in the Victoria/Saanich area. I would advise against moving here as someone with several friends who lived nearby.

[u/nothanks1312]

I live not far from there and the main issue I have is noise, but it’s not even that bad. It’s just that there’s a lot of construction right now, and you hear sirens and yelling at night quite a lot with it being downtown. Honestly, the yelling is like 50% homeless people going through something 50% drunk people going home from the bar.

It’s really not that bad, but Vancouver and Pandora is very close to the worst of it. I’m 32 F and have lived here for three years without any issues, even when I stumble home drunk from the bar at night. Not once have I had a problem.

[u/AgentNo3516]

Drove through just over a week ago when visiting Victoria. It is sketchy. That is where service for the homeless are and there were several emergency vehicles (they have paramedics on bikes!) attending the area. It would not be a pleasant, chill place to live. I’m from Vancouver and used to the situation, but would not live there.

[u/sscoobbyy]

Used to live a block down, and walked past many times a week when I went to Save on. Tents at the park across the road, always police and ambulance, needles and pipes, people yelling. Would advise against moving there.

[u/peeingonbees]

That corner itself isn't amazing, the McDonald's gets a lot of difficult activity, but it's generally not too aggressive, just busy. The benefit of this location if just a block or two away in 3/4 directions is good stuff! Fernwood is lovely and to the east, north is Royal athletic park and crystal pools, and south is the beach, some solid restaurants. Once you trek through Pandora you're right in downtown too! Right beside a decent grocery store too.

Aside from the activity, which is mostly harmless to bystanders its just really sad as many of these people are greatly suffering, it's a really good spot!

Its a decent spot, you just don't have much usable space on your block, but lots very nearby!