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 | |  |  | Downtown Eastside: Main & Hastings | Tip Rating:    |  |  | |  |
Main & Hastings is the famous intersection in Vancouver's downtown eastside neighbourhood which often refers to "ground zero" for the city's drug problems.
Well-meaning locals and hotel staff will tell visitors to Vancouver to "avoid this intersection at all costs". As a result, many curious travellers will rebel this advice and will go see this forbidden block for themselves. What's the fuss all about anyway?
Historically, Main & Hastings is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood. This used to be the heart of Vancouver's downtown before the world wars. Not anymore.
Coincidentally, the downtown eastside is located between two of Vancouver's most famous tourist sites: Chinatown and Gastown. Most tourists don't even realize such neighbourhood exists until they innocently go exploring beyind Gastown in search for Chinatown. Vancouver's Chinatown exists a block away south of this intersection on Main and Pender. A preferable walk between the two sites is to walk along Pender Street from Gastown to Chinatown.
Vancouver's Main & Hastings intersection isn't dangerous, and certainly isn't worth "avoiding at all costs". It's not violent or ridden with gangs. However, it's a sad sight in terms of social issues and how Vancouver deals with its needy: the drug addicts, the homeless, the beggars and prostitutes. While the rest of Vancouver's downtown becomes gentrified, the down and out end up being marginalized to areas like this.
Yet, the area is rich in history and the architecture in this area is unique. This is Vancouver's grittier side. It's dirty and sad, but not dangerous. Don't fear it, just act wisely. As Vancouver author Douglas Coupland said, "come with sturdy footwear and an open mind'. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Downtown Eastside: If you have read other... | Tip Rating: | | | | |
If you have read other warnings about Vancouver, you've probably read about the severe area of town known as the Downtown Eastside. The area around Main and Hastings Street is notorious for drugs, crime, and unsavoury characters. In fact, the neighbourhood is certifiably the poorest is ALL of Canada, has a high rate (sometimes estimated at about 50%) of people living with AIDS, HIV, and/or hepatitis. Yes, it is a bad area, but know that the majority of people involved in crime down there are the criminals themselves (ie: stabbings during a drug-related fight). Please don't go walking down dark alleys at night, but there is no need to panic if you find yourself there. I have a friend who lived right in the heart of the neighbourhood for well over a year--she left her jeep out at night unlocked and without a hood, walked the streets alone, and nothing ever happened to her. There is a real sense of community there--the people are friendly, and there is no need to be paranoid. Just be careful. Bottom line: you'll probably only find trouble if you look for it. There is also no need to go down there and look at the people as if they are sideshows. They deserve respect like everyone else, and have enough problems with having people going down there to gawk at them. By the way--a few weeks after my friend moved to a more 'civilised' neighbourhood, her jeep was stolen.... Leave a Comment
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