Neon Sign Turned On at Opening of Pennsylvania Hotel for Poor

Photos

Neon Sign Turned On at Opening for Pennsylvania Hotel for Poor-Photo-0

see larger image

uploaded by jr

This morning was the "Grand Re-opening" of Vancouver's historic Pennsylvania Hotel at the corner of Carroll & Hastings on the Downtown Eastside. About a century ago, it was a swank hotel advertised as having a telephone in every room, but it has recently been turned into supportive housing for the poor and screwed up.

The Pennsylvania Hotel, which many Downtown Eastsiders call "The Portland" as that's what it's been called for years, has been empty since 2000. A hand-out published by the Portland Hotel Society which will be operating the Pennsylvania didn't conceal their disdain for gentrification in the neighborhood. "We didn't want it to become condos or turned into a Backpacker or Tourist Hotel."

Mayor Gregor Robertson reminded the crowd that homelessness was a priority of his government, but not until after he reminded the crowd that this event was taking place on "Coast Salish traditional territory". Robertson thanked the ultimate supporter of this supportive housing, "the taxpayer".

At the end of the ceremony, everyone went outside to watch a switch flicked to turn on the new "Pennsylvania Hotel" neon sign.

For more on this story and lots more photos, go to Downtown Eastside Enquirer