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While the BIA has been relatively quiet on social media while we focused on Covid and renewal in 2020, we understand the value of our reach on these channels. We will be making much more targeted and frequent use of our website and our Instagram and Twitter accounts. One way we aim to highlight some of the organizations and people in our BIA is through short articles we can share with our followers. If you are interested in having the BIA share a story on your organization, please contact me directly.

Our neighbourhood is not looking its best these days and after adding more cleaning support, I’m now working on two more initiatives to improve sanitary conditions. And as we look forward to the holiday period, I’m exploring an opportunity with Atira and the City of Vancouver to help local organizations brighten up the neighbourhood with holiday lights.   We would love to make it easy for you to plan, buy, and install a light display in your windows. To this end, we plan to make funding available to offset the cost of lights and will offer design and installation services at no cost. Please contact me as soon as possible if this is something you may be interested in!

As we move through the summer and into the fall of an eventful 2020, HxBIA continues to engage on priorities for the Downtown Eastside. Beyond Covid-related supports such as rent relief and property tax reduction, I have heard from many of you that the levels of garbage and other waste have become a serious barrier to operating in the neighbourhood. The BIA has been working with other DTES organizations and the City of Vancouver to improve conditions and I will have an update on a new cleaning initiative soon. We are also developing our strategic plan to cover the BIA’s next five years. Member input is critical to this plan to ensure we reflect your priorities, concerns, and vision for

From the article: “What many critics fail to realize or admit is that the DTES is a community. Despite being in the vise-grip of a deadly health crisis, this is a neighbourhood where people know and look out for each other, and it is one in desperate need of normalizing, beyond government agencies. “What is happening in the DTES is mental health colliding with drugs,” summarizes Snelgar. “On whether this should stop people visiting the area, no, that would only hasten its decline, and in my opinion we need to continue to work to uplift the area and, more importantly, the individuals.” Our DTES needs Vancouverites to care for it by frequenting it. By being there. By walking its streets.

In response to the increasing challenges of street activity and litter faced by businesses within the district, HxBIA has teamed up with Mission Possible to launch a new service for HxBIA business members. This service, free to members, gives you the ability to request support for removal of litter and drug paraphernalia from your storefront and alley space on an as-needed basis. HxBIA’s MP Neighbour teams will now have access to the equipment required to respond directly and quickly to  businesses as needs arise. Simply email [email protected] or call either the BIA office at 604.789.2186 or MP Neighbours at 604.253.4469 Ext. 152 to arrange for assistance. This service is available starting August 15th Monday – Friday, 9AM to 3:30PM. This service is an expansion to our MP Neighbours service. As

Vancouverites will be able to soak in a movie under the stars for free in Victory Square Park on Sunday, July 14 at sunset.Presented by the Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association, the event will mark the first time that a movie is shown outdoors in Victory Square Park.  ​Guests will be able to view the classic comedy, The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, an insurance salesman discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show. “We are thrilled to be putting this free event on for our community.”, says HxBIA Executive Director, Brennan Fitzgerald.“We see these types of events in other parts of the city and are glad to be bringing this to the Downtown Eastside for

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/free-outdoor-movie-vancouver-victory-square-july-2019 Whether they live in the neighbourhood or not, the (HxBIA) said it is inviting all Vancouverites to a free outdoor movie showing in one of the city’s oldest downtown outdoor public spaces.On July 14, the HxBIA will present a free screening of The Truman Show, which stars JimCarrey as Truman Burbank, an insurance salesman who discovers his whole life is actually a reality TV show.The movie will began at sunset, at approximately 9 pm in Victory Square, located at 200 West Hastings Street.“We are thrilled to be putting this free event on for our community,” said HxBIA Executive Director, Brennan Fitzgerald. “We see these types of events in other parts of the city and are glad to be bringing this to the Downtown Eastside

HxBIA has added our support for Councillor Lisa Dominato’s request for a Nighttime Economy Strategy.  We believe great potential exists to further activate Vancouver’s nighttime economy. Here in HxBIA and the Downtown Eastside more broadly, particular consideration should be given to examine how a Nighttime Economic Strategy could benefit businesses, residents, and community members. HxBIA looks forward to participating in future discussions and will work on behalf of our members to ensure this strategy can bring benefits to our district.  Read more about the motion here

Vancouver City Council has passed a 2% tax shift from commercial to residential after significant advocacy from Vancouver’s BIA’s and other experts.  In a time when commercial properties are facing drastic increases in assessments and massive tax increases, this tax relief is much needed. “Business Improvement Associations made their case to council Monday, with the West Broadway BIA telling councillors that it had seen 75 businesses close since 2015 — many citing rising tax bills.” Read more here:​https://globalnews.ca/news/5219084/vancouver-property-tax-shift/https://globalnews.ca/news/5219084/vancouver-property-tax-shift/

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/opinion-other-side-of-downtown-eastside ​Written for Daily Hive by Brennan Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association. In his recent Globe and Mail article, Marcus Gee’s description of his visit to the Downtown Eastside is certainly a common narrative we hear from many visitors to this unique part of our city.He isn’t wrong with regards to what can be witnessed when walking down our streets and alleyways. He’s not wrong that governments have failed to adequately address the complex challenges that exist here nor provide for the most basic needs of some of our country’s most vulnerable citizens.And he’s not wrong that the situation is unacceptable.But allow us to showcase what else you will see and do on any given day in