Diverse views on development of Downtown Eastside

Condo development in the DTES is a hot topic.

A survey carried out by the Low Income Land Use Housing Coalition (LILAHC) in July found many residents wanted a mix of people living in the neighbourhood.

The survey asked 655 local residents who they would like to see living on the DTES.

43% said they wanted the area to be made up of mostly low-income people and the working poor. 57% said they would like to see a mix of low-income and working poor with a percentage of condominium owners.

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The survey also showed that many feared that high-rise developments would dominate the neighbourhood.

78% of the survey said they would not like to see high-rise developments (20 floors or higher) built on the DTES. 70% of the respondents said that they feared that the poor would be discriminated against if there were a proliferation of condominiums.

88% of the survey said that it was important that the government builds enough social housing in the area to allow its poor residents to continue living there.

Local retiree Clarence Hubley, 74, explains why he believes that building social housing is more important that condo development on the DTES: