‘PageM6 May 16,1990. This Week

The changing face of Fernwood...

By CARLA STEIN
This Week Contributor
sk a Victoria resident about
Fernwood and you're likely
to get a wide variety of re-
ponses, everything from
“It's an incredible neighborhood,”
to “It’s a bit rough, isn’t it?” You will
also hear a lot of-people tell you they
grew up in Fernwood, and that is no
surprise since it comprises 22 per cent
of Victoria’s area, while 27 per cent of
the population call it home.

Fernwood has a long history. Here
stands Victoria’s oldest high school,
aptly called Victoria High. The sector
was a source of city water in times
past, via the well that used to be
situated on what is now Spring
Street. Its lanes harboured gravel pits
and breweries. It has even inspired a
book, The Fernwood Files, by John J.
Ellis, which chronicles the area’s de-
velopment.

On a walk through Fernwood, you
will see everything from stunning
heritage homes to haphazardly main-
tained rental units. You will also see a
lot of new construction. Developers
and those seeking to locate near the
downtown core are rediscovering Fer-
nwood. The price of a three bedroom
home in the area has risen 27 per cent
since last year.

The term ‘gentrification’ is often
used to describe an established area
going up in value. It has happened
before — in Vie West, Fairfield and
James Bay. Some property owners in
Fernwood will happily tell you they
are glad their turn is here. Others
concerned with the severe lack of low
cost housing in the city are not so
pleased. :

Meg Johnson (not her real name)
lives in a small, brown cedar-shake
bungalow set well back on a quiet
blossom-lined street. Fernwood has

IL
A FERNWOOD
characteristic of the area.

been her home for 36 years. She has
seen many changes in that time; she
doesn’t like the view she is seeing
now. Human beings have to take care
of each other, she maintains. Fer-
nwood has always been a caring com-
munity, according to Meg, and she
doesn’t think the yuppies she sees
moving in care much about anything
but property values. Meg is willing to
back up her ideals by converting her
own home into a co-operative housing
venture for a low-income family.
Fred Stoba likes Fernwood the way
it is, too. Born in Victoria and a
Fernwood resident for the past six
years, Fred has been closely involved
with both the Fernwood Community
Association and the Fernwood Com-

munity Centre. He
chose to live in Fer-
nwood because it re-
minds him of James
Bay before it was
gentrified. He says
there is a great
blend of people, and
that’s what he finds
comfortable.

“There is an amaz-
ing racial and cul-
tural mix. I’m hav-
ing a get-together at
my place where
probably ten percent
of the people there
won't speak my lan-
guage, but we'll
have a fine time.

“In taking down a
lot of the buildings

PROPERTY IS AT A PREMIUM and develo
ways to take advantage of it.

that are the reason
we moved here in

HERITAGE HOME displays some of the old-style charm so

the first place, you change the ambi-
ence. I don’t want to see this place
change that much. Sure, paint your
house and fix up your fences, but don’t
tear down the house and put up a
condo.”

Meanwhile, Ross Archibald, a more
recent arrival, likes what he sees

unfolding. He moved from Fairfield .

last year because he can walk to work
from Fernwood, and is considering
buying a home.

“People who don’t know the area -

have given it an undeserved reputa-
tion, but there are a lot of people
bringing new energy into Fernwood,
who want to see the profile of the
place positively elevated.”

One of the people working to im-

a sign that this area is prime real
estate. I’d compare what's happening
in Fernwood to the changes a few
years ago in Vic West. It was a hippie
neighbourhood; now houses have
been fixed up, and it boasts the lowest
crime rate in Victoria.”

Morrison says that after only one
year in operation it is still too soon to
evaluate the impact of the station.
Strides are being made with the inci-
dence of motor vehicle thefts and
business break-ins way down. He
looks upon increased home ownership
as a positive crime fighting tool.

2

Real estate agents agree that Fer-
nwood is becoming prime for more
investment. The median price for a
three bedroom house is now $139,000
up from $109,800 last year. Glen
Nicholls, with Henderson Realty, has
been in the business of trading prop-
erty in Victoria for 19 years.

“Fernwood is a well established
area, and has definitely improved ©:
over the past ten years. Older houses
are being renovated, and new homes
being built, younger people moving in. 4
I think the area is one of steady
growth — not as speculative as, say,
lots on the outskirts of the city. I
would agree that Fernwood is going to
become more like Fairfield.”

- Nothing stays the same for long
unless it is dead, and Fernwood is
more than ever a vital and thriving
part of Victoria. What will Fernwood
become in the next ten years? A more
caring and sharing place if Meg John-
son has anything to say about it. A
safer, crime-free community is Const-
able Morrison’s dream. Will the yup-
pies destroy the area’s ambience? It’s “
doubtful. More than likely they wall
just become the latest addition to the
unique mix that has always made this
community a special place to live.

prove conditions in
Fernwood is Consta-
ble Derek Morrison.
On the Victoria po-
lice force for thirteen
years, he heads up
the Community Po-
lice Station. He also
grew up in Fer-
nwood — his par-
ents. still live there.
Morrison feels that
the rising real estate
prices are attracting
more professional
and two-income
families, while forc-
ing first-time buyers
to look in the West-
ern communities.
“The driftwood
railings and the
rainbows are coming
off around here. It’s

EXAMPLE OF DEVELOPERS’ FAITH in Femwood, hous:
es like this one are attracting new residents.

aad

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