The Gastown Residents Association supports the City of Vancouver’s proposal to use the recently closed London Drugs location at Woodward’s as a Vancouver Police Department training facility.
The closure of London Drugs on February 1, 2026 was a significant loss for Gastown and the Downtown Eastside. For nearly 20 years, the store operated as the area’s only full service pharmacy and hosted the community’s only Canada Post outlet, serving thousands of residents. Its closure followed years of persistent safety challenges and financial losses, despite enhanced patrols and safety initiatives.
Gastown and the surrounding Downtown Eastside continue to face serious retail vacancy pressures. While vacancies are visible across the neighbourhood, the Woodward’s complex has been particularly affected. Multiple storefronts in the atrium and along the perimeter have remained empty for years without viable tenants. The closure of London Drugs follows earlier losses, including JJ Bean, which closed citing ongoing safety concerns. This pattern reflects broader structural challenges and the difficulty of attracting and retaining stable retail operators under current conditions.
The Gastown Residents Association strongly supports long term commercial revitalization and expanded retail in the neighbourhood. However, there is currently no viable tenant prepared to occupy the former London Drugs space at scale. Leaving a major anchor unit dark undermines perceptions of safety, reduces daytime foot traffic, and further weakens economic confidence for surrounding businesses and residents.
Activating the space as a police training academy introduces consistent presence, structured daily use, and improved visibility in the atrium. Located adjacent to Simon Fraser University’s downtown campus, this site requires sustained activity and a baseline level of safety in order to support future retail and community uses. Reestablishing stability is a necessary first step in reimagining the space and creating the conditions that will allow new businesses, entrepreneurs, arts programming, and mixed uses to succeed.
Recent commentary has asked whether the space could once again support affordable everyday retail, local entrepreneurs, arts and culture, or a mix of uses that bring people into the neighbourhood for positive reasons. The Gastown Residents Association supports that broader vision. A police training academy does not preclude it. On the contrary, restoring safety and consistent activation is foundational to making those ambitions viable.
Quote from Brian Davie, President, Gastown Residents Association:
“Residents want active storefronts and a thriving local economy. We support retail returning to this space when market conditions make that possible. But leaving a large anchor unit empty in the current climate is not responsible. A police training academy will bring daily activity, improve the sense of security in the atrium, and help stabilize the area so that new retail and community uses can succeed.”
The Gastown Residents Association urges City Council to adopt a pragmatic approach that strengthens public safety, restores confidence in the Woodward’s complex, and lays the groundwork for long term economic renewal in Gastown and the Downtown Eastside.