Drugs, prostitution and crime were rampant in downtown New Westminster for years.
It was a beaten-up neighbourhood, peppered with strip clubs, boarded-up buildings and lost souls.
But take a stroll in downtown today, and it's striking how much has changed. The area is booming with construction, trendy shops and baby strollers.
"There was a lot of years, specifically in the '80s and well into the '90s, I believe, it as very tough down here," says Kendra Johnston, executive director of the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area (BIA). "The SkyTrain came in in '86 for Expo, and I wasn't around at this time, but to my knowledge, there was some challenges around drug dealers and prostitution, etc. I think the city did a lot of work to try and clean this area up."
The BIA is one of the agencies helping to promote and build businesses that make up the city's once-famous commercial district. The organization represents the interests of more than 150 property owners and the 500 businesses located from the waterfront up to Royal Avenue, and from the Patullo Bridge to 10th Street.
The Downtown New Westminster Association - formed back in the 1950s by a group of merchants - was the predecessor for the BIA, which was created in 1991, explains Johnston, who's lived in downtown New Westminster for 12 years.
Looking forward, the BIA is working on bringing a food truck festival to downtown and enhancing the profile of Columbia Street's bridal district, which draws visitors from all over the province to the city.
The BIA has also put a lot of energy into building up its own online presence.
Characterizing these years, Johnston says there is a lot of positive energy downtown.
"It feels very different to me," she says. "With increased population down here, with a totally different demographic of young families, young professionals, people are looking for cool events and activities to do on the weekends that appeal to that demographic or they're looking for new cool restaurants or hang-out spots."
The business owners she talks to have a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the neighbourhood.
"That's so exciting after a long period of people not having a lot of faith," she says.
