Most of my readers comment on what a beautiful area I live in. I have had
several people from other countries ask me for more details about life in Maple Ridge. Click anywhere on the orange print to view a previous post thas was written in response to such an enquiry.
several people from other countries ask me for more details about life in Maple Ridge. Click anywhere on the orange print to view a previous post thas was written in response to such an enquiry.
Today I want to share some of the less pretty side of town. There is a small area on the south side of Lougheed Hwy that locals call the Ghetto because of a few less than eye-pleasing properties.
I didn't want to get out of my car here, as there were pit bulls roaming the parking area. I think it is a shame that the landlords don't keep these places better kept up. The buildings themselves aren't so bad, but they are just messy. Garbage bags on the windows, car parts strewn about the yard. One building in this apartment complex, was burnt out by fire over a year ago and it remains boarded up, the landlord apparently want insurance to repair it, and the city wants in demolishing. I guess we get the pleasure of this eyesore while they work out their differences. I feel bad for the low income tenants of this place that have to look at this mess. A handful of sloppy tenants spoil the area for all the rest.
Some old places, have been rezoned. Is it progress when property is rezoned and then sits derelict for years, as speculators wait for that dream developer to make them an offer. And is it fair for the occupants of nearby homes to have to see this neglect for years. Little homes on the same street are neat as pins and obviously well loved. 
Some of the local businesses, such as this scrap yard, don't help with the appearance of the town with such embellishments as aluminum siding topped by barbed wire!. I know there isn't much pretty about a scrap yard to start with. I guess it is better that gazing upon heaps of derelict vehicles.
Does your town have sights like this?
12 comments:
For some reason I wasn't able to view the pictures today, but what city doesn't have their seedy side. It makes it hard on the ones who are trying to improve the area.
I cannot view the pictures either!! I guess all cities have a side or two which is not the pride and joy of it's citizens. Here in Malta unfortunately we do get more than we want to and it is not lack of money or waiting for insurance some of them are pure idiots (excuse my expression now) and just dump stuff cause they would not need the property yet or just because they do not care !! I will have to post a photo of some of these sites soon.
I am working just now. But will repost the photos again in the morning.
Susan
I couldn't get the pics either...but it does sound like this part of town isn't as nice to view as others...thanks for sharing
Susan: Now you know why I left Cincinnati. Nothing galls me more than city officials who shrug their shoulders and say "But we've always done it this way" and then proceed to languish for decades; it's a true mind set. I'm glad you stayed in the car.
Sure, I think every town has it's seedy side.
I guess that is one of the reasons that I prefer smaller towns. I am not getting the photos but think the problem is with a link to Flickr. I am getting a continuous attempt to retrieve something from Flickr that is probably the file via the link. Check that in your post.
Still can't see the pictures but I'm sure it can't be any worse than the downtown eastside.
I still cannot see the pictures either.
There will always be placesin the city where life is a little more spiced up socially if not residentially.
As long as there are poor people there will always be a seedy side.
It's not the poors faught but those who feed off of them like unscrupulous landlords who rather let the place go down hill and collect rents with no or little expense until such a time when an opertunity comes by that would give then the chance to make even more money.
Your pictures are visable now, Susan.
I know what you mean about the fire - I live in a complex in Burnaby and there was a fire in one of the buildings last Apr/May - they didn't start anything til mid-December - its still a mess there now.
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