Victoria reallocates $10M to deal with downtown street crime

“This is exactly the type of thing our members have called for, which is increased foot patrols, among other things, from VicPD,” Jeff Bray, DVBA chief executive officer, told Capital Daily. The city will spend $10.35 million to hire more bylaw and police officers, open more shelters, address community safety issues, and focus on problems downtown—especially on Pandora—and nearby on Princess, Mayor Marianne Alto said yesterday.

“Victorians are frustrated with the rising degree of street disorder and the consequences from it that affect the daily lives of residents,” she said.

Addressing concerns stated in its Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan (CSWP), which the council is expected to ratify today, the city said it will hire 12 additional bylaw workers, who will patrol the downtown core as well as Pandora and Princess.

The city said 80% of bylaw staff time is spent managing sheltering in public spaces, which cost $3.5 million last year, strained resources, and limited its reach. The city said it will spend $1.9 million on the new positions.

In addition, the city has allocated $1.35 million to support the hiring or redeployment of nine police officers strictly to Victoria. While it doesn’t have the authority to make operational decisions for VicPD, the city said it will ask the police chief to deploy more resources downtown, especially on Pandora, as well as on Princess.

It also will match—one time only—the $220K VicPD is getting from the province to implement the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (CSTEP) to deal with street crimes, such as shoplifting and property damage.

In a release, VicPD said increased patrols began last week, and they will continue to focus on the downtown core, specifically between Blanshard and Wharf, and from Chatham to the Cruise Ship Terminal.

“Officers will actively engage with the public, local businesses, and community groups while enforcing relevant laws,” VicPD said.

‍ More shelter spaces outside the downtown core

Alto said that while services aimed at poverty, homelessness, addictions, and health fall primarily under the province’s responsibilities, residents of Victoria expect their local government to get involved.

To that end, the city said it will create more short-term emergency shelters away from the downtown area.

“This may require use of existing city property or rental of private property, plus costs for infrastructure, upkeep, and operation,” it said in a release.

The city plans to spend $1.95 million on new infrastructure, $850K to operate the shelters for the next two years, $300K for property rental over the next two years, and $250K to boost existing shelter capacity.

Last month, the city unveiled its CWSP, which contains 95 recommendations for itself, the province, and the federal government to address crime and a decline in downtown visits from tourists and residents alike.

Just days before the plan’s release, the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) put out a study—which it entitled “A Wake Up Call”—suggesting 39% of downtown business owners reported declining revenues. A further 48% said they would consider closing up shop if their leases were to expire next year.

“We need bold, immediate action in 2025, or we risk a wave of closures, job losses, and a dramatic erosion of downtown’s vitality,” Jeff Bray, DVBA chief executive officer, wrote in the report.

That report said 11% of downtown retail storefronts were vacant. When asked to select one realistic option for investment if the DVBA had $150K to improve safety downtown, 36% said they would like to see one police officer designated for the area.

Home run, says DVBA

Bray said the city delivered.

“This is exactly the type of thing our members have called for, which is increased foot patrols, among other things, from VicPD,” he told Capital Daily.

“We are just so pleased to see the city moving so quickly and making such a major, bold commitment to really provide this,” Bray said.

“It shows that the council and the staff are listening to businesses and are responding appropriately.”

More than one-third of the $10.35 million announced yesterday—an estimated $3.75 million—has been earmarked toward restoring Pandora, from Blanshard to Cook.

“Based on early designs, Pandora rehabilitation is estimated to be more than $7 million, but preliminary work will make tangible changes within a $3.75 million budget,” the city said.

Similar rehabilitative work along Princess is not yet determined, the city said, but preliminary estimates suggest it will cost $1.1 million to restore and maintain.

To do all this, the city said it would need $13.6 million and had no choice but to get the money from existing projects and savings.

‍ Here’s where the money is coming from

“The Downtown Victoria Business Association really applauds the city for making some bold decisions and some, you know, tough decisions in terms of repurposing resources,” Bray said.

One of those tough decisions is right outside the council chamber, with the Centennial Square redevelopment project feeling the effects. Some $2.5 million in funding will be redirected.

That will delay work in the eastern half of the square, meaning the controversial removal of the large sequoia by Douglas will have to wait for a “future date,” the city said in its release.

Plans to upgrade Royal Athletic Park will have to be scaled back by $1.5 million. As well, $4 million will come from the city’s reserve set aside for emergency and public safety-related expenses.

A further $1.65 million will be reallocated from the city’s housing reserve, and $700K is to be reallocated from future contributions for the rest of 2025 and 2026.

“These funds ($10.35 million) do not total the amount needed overall, but they are enough to get started on immediate actions that will change the realities of Pandora Avenue, Princess Street, and our downtown and make a tangible difference to community safety and well-being in Victoria,” the city said in its release.