Long-running Vancouver business owner reflects on city's decline amid OPS fears
The owner of a long-running Vancouver business is expressing anxiety and concern over the uncertainty and lack of transparency about 900 Helmcken St., where a proposed overdose prevention site has been paused.
In May, we learned that the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) was putting an indefinite pause on the development of the proposed OPS.
However, since then, there has been some activity at the building.
On June 30, Daily Hive Urbanized heard from VCH after we inquired about the activity. In response, VCH shared that Raincity Housing had assumed responsibility for the least on June 1 and was working on maintenance, general improvements and repairs of the site.
“VCH/Raincity are not proceeding with an overdose-prevention site at 900 Helmcken St. at this time, and are committed to engaging with stakeholders prior to opening any site in future,” VCH said.
That hasn’t necessarily eased the anxiety for Denise Meikle, who runs Salon Origins and was born and raised in Vancouver. Daily Hive Urbanized caught up with Meikle, and she shared how she has seen Vancouver change since moving into downtown in the late ’80s.
“I’ve worked in the area since 1990. I have a strong clientele. Lots of relationships. I watched the city develop over time, and I’ve also watched it decline over time.”
Meikle originally opened her business on David and Seymour before eventually moving into the current location at 1088 Hornby St., a very short walk away from the proposed OPS site.
A huge shift for some Vancouver businesses
Meikle said the biggest decline she has seen in terms of street disorder and public drug use has been since COVID-19. She felt a major vibe shift when more shelters and SROs began opening up in that area.
In 2024, we published a story about the Thomus Donaghy OPS being relocated after many residents in the area complained about street disorder, including needles, garbage, crime, and other safety issues.
Meikle echoed those sentiments, and that’s when she decided to move to the Hornby location in 2016.
“We had shoppers and tourists, and my clients and I really loved it. It was just, it was just really nice. And unfortunately, since COVID, that changed completely.”
During COVID-19, the B.C. government obtained hotels on Granville Street to help and house homeless people.
Meikle believes that led to an increase in drug use in and around her business’s neighbourhood, and she says it has amplified since then.
“There’s garbage and vomit and feces that we, my neighbors, we are the ones that have to deal with that.”
She told us a story about the first time she discovered human feces at the front door of her business. She called the City to ask for advice. The rep on the phone told her to treat it like dog poop. She responded, saying, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is a biohazard on my front steps, and I have no idea what to do.”
Meikle has reached out to all the relevant officials involved in the potential OPS site, which is currently on hold.
While Meikle has a loyal clientele, her client retention is decreasing.
She even spoke with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim recently about the struggles she and neighbouring businesses have been experiencing:
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What the Vancouver business owner sees as a solution
Meikle wanted to make it very clear that she does not oppose harm reduction and wants the people who need help to get it. Especially since she has seen a growth in the number of younger people who seem to be dealing with addiction.
She believes that what the government is currently doing is managing an addiction, not recovery.
“The goal should be recovery, whatever that may look like,” she said.
She also wants more transparency from the government about its progress.
“This is a big problem, and it’s not getting better; it’s worse. It’s getting worse, and it’s going to get worse.”
She encourages more people to speak out and not be afraid to do so.