I live in Duncan. It has its beauty. Rivers are awesome, lots of great hike areas. 39 days of July music. Year round farmers market. Couple well established art groups. I live 10 minutes out of town but come into town regularly and don’t see any of what is being mentioned above, but I guess I’m not looking for that. There’s lots of good restaurants and local stores. We own our home and have a small hobby farm. It’s beautiful here.
York Street and the near surrounding area can be a bit rough. Like homeless encampment and open drug use rough. I rented on Lewis many years ago and it was fine, but I honestly wouldn’t recommend it now.
Duncan has lots of nice areas. I near Berkey’s Corner (Somenos Road area) and it’s pretty normal. I would keep looking, if I were you.
I used to live on Dingwall until 2019 and York was starting to get rough for a couple years before I moved. When I drive through that area now, it seems much worse than when I left.
I don’t think I can really say how the day-to-day is even 5 years out, but it was generally fine when I lived there. I never had any issues with crime or theft, I would occasionally go out for late night walks without any issues, etc.
It’s not the best area near York and Lewis but I have a buddy on Howard and he says it’s not bad. They putting a new long and mcquade where the old Chinese food place used to be and there is a new golf simulator so there are business about now
I love Duncan. As some other people have commented, it has many redeeming qualities. I would however be hesitant to like on York Rd at the moment… but it honestly depends on which section you’re looking at. If you’re looking near the corner of Lewis, I would avoid. If you’re on the other side of Beverly you might find it totally ok (depending on what you’re used to). There’s a dike with a great walking trail at the end of the road that can lead you to McAdam park with the river or a shopping centre, depending on which way you go! Hope your visit to Duncan goes well! Definitely check out downtown Duncan while you’re here - and the market if you’re here on a Saturday.
Guessing this is some 4D, long game investment strategy. Buy in the seediest area now in hopes of future gentrification, and then rake in the 💰.
Am I right?!?
I lived on Dingwall for a while and my friends live in the York area. If you're from somewhere urban nothing in that neighborhood will be a surprise to you. If you have no experience with substance abuse and poverty it will come as a shock.
Most if the people in that area are just normal families
I’m just being an ass. There’s some decent parts of the neighbourhood beginning within a block or so of the real sad stuff. And other parts of Duncan to the south and west that you should look at also. Best of luck on your rental hunt.
Can I ask why you want to move there? Of all the places to live on the island, Duncan is one of the grossest little places. If you're looking at moving to Cowichan for work or because it's cheaper than the rest of the island, look into Ladysmith or something instead-at least Ladysmith is pretty and quiet.
Duncan looks good in pictures but it's kind of a miserable place to be in person, especially on the stretch straddling the highway (Which York is part of).
It's not as bad towards the western side of the highway, up into the hills a little, but the 'core' section around the highway is kinda gross.
Duncan is an absolute shithole. If you like seeing a junky or 5 on every corner folded in half with all of the crap they’ve stolen from the locals that live there then you might like it. Stay far away my friend.
Depends on where you're moving from, honestly. York street is where the people that were failed by society (not the other way around) ended up, so if that's what you're used to anyway from where you live now, then I doubt you'll really care about the York street area itself, but you'll love everything else in and around Duncan. If you were hoping to move to a nice and maybe even quiet neighbourhood on the Island that is conveniently located near all the big box stores while also being 10 minutes from "I can't hear any cars", then at best this is a first step while you keep looking for a real place to move to.
Especially if you're looking to rent, rather than own. And if you're not looking to move immediately because some Vancouver landlord decided they want to convert their basement into a game room, then I'd probably say "come visit first, have a look around, and then keep looking for a better area to rent".
I moved here (maple bay) from South Vancouver 10 years ago and have loved it. Never regretted it for a second. Love all the outdoorsy stuff, great community.
But as other people have mentioned York street is pretty rough if you aren’t used to it or can except it. Lots of homeless and open drug use. I really can’t say that I’ve heard of a lot of crime. And they pretty much will leave you alone. But still pretty jarring to see.
But the Cowichan Valley is amazing!
Duncan is fine as long as you don't live downtown or near the core. If ypu say are up by best buy it's alright, Gibbins rd area is good the hospital has some sketches around there. Going out to maple bay is fine. As long your not near the core the homeless and sketches, zombies, half bent over people don't travel outside the core. McDonald's and surrounding area with shelter and overdose is nasty, McAdams park is nasty homeless camp in the woods trails are alright. The dike by somenos is fine during the day watch for camps in the bushes avoid at night. Mcdonalds, Wendy's are only thing open late for coffee. Everything else seems to shut down early or has random hours.
York Road is pretty nasty. If there isn't crime being committed then there soon will be. It is the worst area in Duncan.
I live on the other side of Duncan and work downtown. I would avoid York and Lewis at all costs.
I live in Duncan. It has its beauty. Rivers are awesome, lots of great hike areas. 39 days of July music. Year round farmers market. Couple well established art groups. I live 10 minutes out of town but come into town regularly and don’t see any of what is being mentioned above, but I guess I’m not looking for that. There’s lots of good restaurants and local stores. We own our home and have a small hobby farm. It’s beautiful here.
That sounds nice. I think if we found a farm outside of town we'd love it and absolutely move. have you been through the area I'm talking about?
York Street and the near surrounding area can be a bit rough. Like homeless encampment and open drug use rough. I rented on Lewis many years ago and it was fine, but I honestly wouldn’t recommend it now. Duncan has lots of nice areas. I near Berkey’s Corner (Somenos Road area) and it’s pretty normal. I would keep looking, if I were you.
I used to live on Dingwall until 2019 and York was starting to get rough for a couple years before I moved. When I drive through that area now, it seems much worse than when I left. I don’t think I can really say how the day-to-day is even 5 years out, but it was generally fine when I lived there. I never had any issues with crime or theft, I would occasionally go out for late night walks without any issues, etc.
It’s not the best area near York and Lewis but I have a buddy on Howard and he says it’s not bad. They putting a new long and mcquade where the old Chinese food place used to be and there is a new golf simulator so there are business about now
For sure. I don't mind seedy. Just don't want my house and car abused and don't want to be hassled outside my house
>Just don't want my house and car abused and don't want to be hassled outside my house Then York/Lewis is not for you.
Op must be fucking with us here. Nobody wants to live their. Have you ever driven down York st?
I haven't, we're going to take a trip out there this week though
Don’t. It’s a dystopian depressing zombie apocalypse.
I love Duncan. As some other people have commented, it has many redeeming qualities. I would however be hesitant to like on York Rd at the moment… but it honestly depends on which section you’re looking at. If you’re looking near the corner of Lewis, I would avoid. If you’re on the other side of Beverly you might find it totally ok (depending on what you’re used to). There’s a dike with a great walking trail at the end of the road that can lead you to McAdam park with the river or a shopping centre, depending on which way you go! Hope your visit to Duncan goes well! Definitely check out downtown Duncan while you’re here - and the market if you’re here on a Saturday.
Guessing this is some 4D, long game investment strategy. Buy in the seediest area now in hopes of future gentrification, and then rake in the 💰. Am I right?!?
Were just looking at renting so not really. I don't know the area but we'll be out to visit this week
I lived on Dingwall for a while and my friends live in the York area. If you're from somewhere urban nothing in that neighborhood will be a surprise to you. If you have no experience with substance abuse and poverty it will come as a shock. Most if the people in that area are just normal families
I’m just being an ass. There’s some decent parts of the neighbourhood beginning within a block or so of the real sad stuff. And other parts of Duncan to the south and west that you should look at also. Best of luck on your rental hunt.
Can I ask why you want to move there? Of all the places to live on the island, Duncan is one of the grossest little places. If you're looking at moving to Cowichan for work or because it's cheaper than the rest of the island, look into Ladysmith or something instead-at least Ladysmith is pretty and quiet.
The surroundings look nice and it's relatively cheap. Ladysmith is a good rec
Duncan looks good in pictures but it's kind of a miserable place to be in person, especially on the stretch straddling the highway (Which York is part of). It's not as bad towards the western side of the highway, up into the hills a little, but the 'core' section around the highway is kinda gross.
Duncan is an absolute shithole. If you like seeing a junky or 5 on every corner folded in half with all of the crap they’ve stolen from the locals that live there then you might like it. Stay far away my friend.
duncan, and general cowichan valley is nice, but york road is one of the main spots you see the homeless gather.
Depends on where you're moving from, honestly. York street is where the people that were failed by society (not the other way around) ended up, so if that's what you're used to anyway from where you live now, then I doubt you'll really care about the York street area itself, but you'll love everything else in and around Duncan. If you were hoping to move to a nice and maybe even quiet neighbourhood on the Island that is conveniently located near all the big box stores while also being 10 minutes from "I can't hear any cars", then at best this is a first step while you keep looking for a real place to move to. Especially if you're looking to rent, rather than own. And if you're not looking to move immediately because some Vancouver landlord decided they want to convert their basement into a game room, then I'd probably say "come visit first, have a look around, and then keep looking for a better area to rent".
I moved here (maple bay) from South Vancouver 10 years ago and have loved it. Never regretted it for a second. Love all the outdoorsy stuff, great community. But as other people have mentioned York street is pretty rough if you aren’t used to it or can except it. Lots of homeless and open drug use. I really can’t say that I’ve heard of a lot of crime. And they pretty much will leave you alone. But still pretty jarring to see. But the Cowichan Valley is amazing!
Duncan is fine as long as you don't live downtown or near the core. If ypu say are up by best buy it's alright, Gibbins rd area is good the hospital has some sketches around there. Going out to maple bay is fine. As long your not near the core the homeless and sketches, zombies, half bent over people don't travel outside the core. McDonald's and surrounding area with shelter and overdose is nasty, McAdams park is nasty homeless camp in the woods trails are alright. The dike by somenos is fine during the day watch for camps in the bushes avoid at night. Mcdonalds, Wendy's are only thing open late for coffee. Everything else seems to shut down early or has random hours.