WATCH: This year’s Robson Street art installation in Vancouver has run into a problem that’s forcing some people to avoid it. Jeremy Hunka reports.
It’s been a part of Vancouver’s summer landscape for five years now–an art installation on the 800-block of Robson Street meant to be a gathering space for the public to enjoy.
But criticism of this year’s design has come quickly with many saying it’s being used more as a shelter for the homeless than a public gathering place.
The “Porch Parade” is a colourful art installation set up as a pedestrian-only area to encourage visitors to pull up a chair in the shade on one of the front porches and chat with one another.
Charles Gauthier, president of Downtown Business Improvement Association, says this year’s installation has been a disappointment.
“It’s not to the same calibre that we’ve seen in previous years. It’s really not conducive in terms of what we’ve seen in previous years, in terms of bringing people down.”
The City says it has not received an official complaint about the installation this summer, stating the Porch Parade adds vibrancy to the city and was one of the top designs chosen by the public.
Still, Councillor George Affleck says more foresight may be needed in the future.
“We have a homeless problem in Vancouver. Over 1,500 people are homeless, desperate for places to sleep. We’ve now apparently provided them for a facility to sleep in the downtown core. This is a challenge that we have overall. It’s dealing with the homeless problem and also making sure that we don’t construct things that…create problems that make things worse.”
Gauthier says local merchants’ concerns extend beyond this year’s installation.
“It’s the centre of the city,” he said. “It’s a very key street for buses to be operating on…We’ve talked to our members, primarily those in the retail trade, and they said that this is certainly something that they’re opposed to continuing in the future.”
-With files from Jeremy Hunka
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