A campsite was completely dismantled and a man arrested on Tuesday along Vancouver’s most exclusive street.
On Monday, it was reported police had been notified of conflicts between residents of Belmont Avenue in West Point Grey and people who had set up tents, a clothesline and other structures on one of three large side-by-side vacant lots assessed at $60 million.
On Tuesday afternoon those structures were all gone. All that was left to show the squatters were there were markings on the dilapidated entrance to the property stating “thanks for proving that fences are necessary to save guard others.”
On a recent weekday morning, Postmedia News found a small shelter made of wooden planks and blue tarp. Gardening tools, a rake and some shovels hung neatly from the shelter. Some plastic pails and a watering can sat on the ground nearby. A toilet sat out in the open not far away amid low-lying vegetation and piles of branches.
The vacant lots are owned by a company directed by investor Edison Washington, also known as Qiang Wang.
According to a Vancouver Police Department statement issued on Tuesday evening, one of the campers — Joseph Grenon — was arrested and charged with mischief.
He remains in custody until his next court appearance, VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin, said in an email.
— with a file from Joanne Lee-Young
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