VancouverMETRO VANCOUVER NEWS
“Indestructible” Downtown Eastside toilet suddenly closes for repairs
A public washroom at Main and Powell streets in Vancouver closed less than five months after opening. The city says the repair involves a lock, but has not confirmed whether the work will fit within its approximately $95,000 annual maintenance budget.
Questions have arisen after a public washroom at Main and Powell streets in Vancouver closed unexpectedly less than five months after opening. The facility was built by Portland Loo, which says its products are designed to prevent common problems with public toilets. The company describes the kiosks as sleek and modern, with graffiti-proof wall panels and open grating intended to discourage crime.
When the Vancouver Park Board installed two Portland Loos in CRAB Park, the structures were described as “so durable, it’s almost indestructible.” They remained in place through more than two years of an encampment, but the washroom at Main and Powell has not proved as durable. Neighbours say someone had been living in it for about a week before a sign appeared saying it was closed for repairs.
Community member Nat Canuel said there had previously been a washroom at the location for years. It was self-cleaning, but sat broken for years. The city then bought this one in time for the World Cup, Canuel said, but it lasted only four months; now, people in the area have no washroom again.
Vancouver has six Portland Loos. The Park Board manages five: two in CRAB Park, two in Columbia Park and one in Coopers’ Park. The City of Vancouver manages the unit at Powell and Main, which opened on June 8, 2026.
In an email statement, the city said the installations are part of a broader effort to improve public health and cleanliness, and access to essential amenities for residents, businesses and visitors in some of Vancouver’s busiest neighbourhoods. Officials confirmed that procurement and installation of the Main and Powell facility cost $446,145. Annual maintenance is approximately $95,000.
The city could not confirm whether repair costs would come from the annual $95,000 maintenance budget or require additional funding. It said the repair is for either a lock part or replacement of the lock system. The city does not expect either option to be a large expense; it may be covered by the current annual maintenance budget, which is largely for servicing, or require extra funding.