DTES business owner hopeful for future after Oppenheimer Park cleared

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – While it’s been cleared of homeless campers, questions remain about what the future holds for Oppenheimer Park on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

But despite the uncertainty, some are hopeful things may finally change for the better.

Lisa Lemanis, who runs the Uncommon Cafe next to Oppenheimer, says she’s been pleasantly surprised by the speed of the cleanup at the greenspace since Saturday.

“I think everyone’s pretty shocked that it happened, because there were so many times that it’s been talked about, or someone said it was going to happen, or this is the plan, and then things kind of don’t work out,” she tells NEWS 1130.

Lemanis says most business owners in the area want to see Oppenheimer Park return to its original purpose — a greenspace for the locals and their families.

“I mean we’d love to see it back as a park,” she explains, adding, “I’d be happy for it to be converted half into housing.”

However, Lemanis notes the main thing everyone is looking for is consistency.

“Be good to have concerts going again, and just people back there hanging out, like a park is supposed to be.”

She concedes that it’s likely going to be a while before that happens, as the occupation has left the grounds there a mess, and a breeding ground for rats.

There are also concerns that once the park is refurbished, it may once again become a magnet for homeless people who are looking for a place to live.

Oppenheimer Park is currently fenced off after the provincial deadline for it to be cleared took effect at noon on Saturday.

According to BC Housing, 227 people had moved out of Oppenheimer and into hotels or accommodations provided by the province as of Friday morning.