CITY SEEKS SQUARE CLEANUP

Rampant drug use in Centennial Square was just one reason city
council decided removal of a vacant restaurant annex connected to
the McPherson Playhouse was a good idea.

Creating a more clear viewscape between Douglas Street and Pandora
Avenue, as a way to enhance the vibrancy and safety in the square,
was also on the minds of politicians who voted for the demolition --
such as when they approved the angled design of the new Capital
Regional District headquarters on the northwest corner of the square.

But the drug issue and overall safety in the area are more on the
minds of police who patrol the area.

"It's unfortunate we're living in a society where we have to change
buildings or close off alleys or gate off alcoves due to the
addiction issues that the city is starting to be plagued with,"
lamented Sgt. Jamie Pearce, who heads up the city's bike patrol.
"These are some bigger issues we need to deal with on a bigger scale."

While removing the former Antoine's Restaurant would reduce the
number of alcoves and shadowy places people could use to hide out
when shooting up, there remain a number of nooks and crannies where
people can take refuge to feed their habit, he said.

The public washrooms, reopened last year at the base of the city
parkade, are recessed and out of sight. Commissionaires regularly
monitor their use and one man on duty Wednesday confirmed that
regular drug use goes on in the washrooms.

"We just make sure nobody overdoses in there," he said, noting that
a needle container in the washroom is well used.

Once upon a time, the square was as overrun with dealers as users.
Thanks to stepped-up police surveillance, most dealers have moved on
to other areas, Pearce said.

It got to the point a few months ago where the frequency of addicts
shooting up in a covered area at the rear of the McPherson Playhouse
- -- city staff were collecting up to 70 needles a day from the alcove
- -- prompted the installation of a 10-foot high chain-link fence to
prevent misuse of the area.

Part of the reason the square tends to be a popular place to shoot
up, Pearce contends, is its location between the Streetlink shelter
and the needle exchange located at AIDS Vancouver Island at
Blanshard and Cormorant streets.

Victoria Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe is downtown liaison on city
council and is well-versed with the challenges the city and police
face in trying to clean up certain areas of the core.

"The reality is, whenever we do something that deals with CPTED
(Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) issues, it just
displaces the problems," she admitted.

"A police officer once told me that (drug dealing problems are) like
a balloon, if you squeeze on one side the pressure just goes somewhere else."

Thornton-Joe recalled that when she first was elected to council she
heard rumblings of dealing in the square. The combination of regular
security and more police presence have helped stem the amount of
drug activity in the square, she said.

"I think whenever the square is animated with activity, that helps."

The completion of the CRD buildings, the popularity of Summer in the
Square entertainment events and the filling up of all office and
ground-floor retail spaces in the parkade building all contribute in
that regard, Thornton-Joe said.

The restaurant removal is scheduled to begin early next year.