Ottawa's historic Chinatown faces growing pains as residents see neighbourhood changing
One of Ottawa’s oldest neighborhoods is grappling with its future, as it sees an increase in vacant businesses and changes in the community.
- Sign up now for our daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
A fixture of Ottawa's Chinatown for over 40 years, Yangtze Restaurant, announced it was putting its property up for sale. The closure is part of a growing problem that residents and business owners have been seeing in the neighbourhood.
Some residents say they have seen in increase in petty crime and social problems related to homelessness and drug addiction that is having an impact on the community's growth.
Peter Yeung, a business owner along Somerset Street West, said he is concerned with the growing number of those in need not receiving support. Chinatown is home to one of the city's safe consumption sites, where anyone can bring pre-obtained drugs and use under professional supervision.
Yeung say he supports safe consumption sites, but says an increase in panhandling could have an impact on businesses in the area.
"This is the centre core of the city of Ottawa, if this area is not growing, all of our collective business are on the line," Yeung said.
"In terms of the injection site I think it has an impact in terms of concern if they come here panhandlers and so forth, I have nothing against them. I think the city needs to help them."
Daphne Millar is a resident who lives just off of Somerset Street West and says the community is welcoming and vibrant, but is showing strains from the cost of living.
She sees the sale of businesses like Yangtze as a sign of the times, with traditional family businesses having a difficult time.
"It's obviously very sad to see, I’m sure it’s a big family business here. I know lots of people have been to Yangtze," Millar said.
"I would like to see that small business community stick around. I want to see this community thrive."
The area's business improvement association (BIA) is working to grow business in the area and help residents feel more secure.
"What we hope is from the city's perspective is we could get some support in terms of more police presence in the neighborhood so that when people are in need, their concerns can be quickly addressed," said Yukang Li, the executive director of Chinatown's BIA.
Even with challenges, the community is welcoming residents to shop eat and celebrate daily, with special events growing.
The annual Chinatown night market is taking over Somerset Street for three days starting on May 31.
Planning for this year is well underway with a waiting list for venders to participate.
"That list was full very quickly and now we have a very long waiting list," Li said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE AT 2:30 2-hour wildfire evacuation notice issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods
A wildfire evacuation alert for some Fort McMurray residents has been updated to a two-hour evacuation notice.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
1 killed, 3 injured in head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.
Protesters gather at Ottawa City Hall after Israeli flag raised to mark country's national day
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.
8 dead, at least 40 injured as farmworkers' bus overturns in central Florida
A bus carrying farmworkers in central Florida overturned on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring about 40 other passengers, authorities said.