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Just over a century ago, Vancouver was a two-block collection of buildings called Granville (now known as Gastown). This location on Burrard Inlet was competing to be the west coast terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. By 1887, a year after the City of Vancouver was incorporated, the first passenger train arrived at the foot of Howe Street, and future growth was assured. In the next seven years, a building boom began to move the city centre from Water and Cordova Streets up to Georgia and Granville Streets.
Streetcar service was initiated in 1890, joining the waterfront to Granville, Pender and Cordova Streets. The next period of growth was sparked by the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898. The following decade confirmed Granville Street as the centre of Downtown, and a real estate boom spiraled land costs upwards. By 1912, a core office and shopping area was well developed, flanked by comfortable residential neighbourhoods. The period after World War I saw another economic leap forward and more Downtown development. The 1929 stock market crash halted it all, and began a thirty five year period of very little change in the area.The late 1960s and 70s saw rapid growth in the Downtown and adjacent areas such as the West End. Vancouver solidified its position as an international financial and business centre and white collar jobs in the city core multiplied. Pacific Centre Mall was developed and Granville Street was transformed into a transit mail. Rapid changes to the skyline, combined with urban renewal proposals for Gastown and a freeway through Chinatown lead to a surge of resident concerns about the future of the Downtown. Citizen involvement successfully defeated the freeway proposals, and in 1971 the provincial government designated Gastown and Chinatown as historic districts. The Robson Square Courthouse and Vancouver Art Gallery complex was completed in 1977 creating an important public space in the heart of the Downtown. Industrial land surrounding False Creek was rezoned to permit comprehensive redevelopment into residential neighbourhoods. The early 80s saw a 60,000 seat indoor stadium called B.C. Place built just south of the Georgia Viaduct. In 1986 the north shore of False Creek was the venue for an international exposition, EXPO 86. The Canada Place Trade and Convention Centre was constructed on Burrard Inlet as Canada’s pavilion to the fair. It is also the city’s cruise ship terminal The first phase of SkyTrain, linking Downtown to New Westminster, was also built to coincide with EXPO.In the late 1980s, the Downtown was clearly in transition from a precinct dedicated mostly to commerce, to a cluster of neighbourhoods ringing a thriving office and shopping district. Council adoption of the Central Area Plan in late 1991 confirmed this direction by establishing overall goals and land use policy for the Downtown. False Creek North – located on the former EXPO 86 site, on the north shore of False Creek, development of this 83-hectare (204-acre) site will include 8,500 residential units housing for more than 14,000 people, 2.6 million square feet of commercial space, social housing, parks, schools, community facilities, and a waterfront walkway and bicycle route.Yaletown – Once the city’s warehouse district, Yaletown is today a revitalized part of the city and a “trendy” place to live, work, and do business. The area north of Pacific Boulevard, between Nelson and Drake Streets, is home to a mix of art galleries, retail stores, restaurants, office and residential developments.Like many areas of Vancouver, Yaletown’s early days were shaped by the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1887. Yaletown acquired its name when the railway moved its construction equipment and repair shops from Yale in the Fraser Canyon to the railway’s western terminus of Vancouver.Downtown South
In 1991, Council amended Downtown’s Official Development Plan for the area known as Downtown South. Located south of Robson Street, east of the West End, and north of Pacific Street and historic Yaletown, this 51 ha (128 ac) area will be transformed into a high-density residential and mixed-use community. By 2020, the area should be home to approximately 11,000 people in 5,600 housing units. Guidelines are in place to provide view protection and ensure a livable, high density neighbourhood for residentsThe register is the way city staff and the public keep track of building of heritage value. Buildings are graded depending on their architectural, historical or contextual value, and some are “protected” through heritage designation.Heritage – Within the downtown core there are many landmark buildings, including:
The Hotel Vancouver (1929-1939), 900 West Georgia
The Marine Building, (1930), 355 Burrard
The Sun Tower (1912), 100 West Pender,
Christ Church Cathedral (1889-1895), 690 Burrard
CPR Station (1914), 601 West Cordova
Court House/Vancouver Art Gallery(1906-1912), 800 West Georgia
Woodwards (1903, plus 9 additions), 101 West Hastings
B.C. Hydro Building (1957), 970 Burrard View the City’s Heritage Conservation Program more history and great old pictures Know some vancouver downtown history you’d like to share with us? keep up to date with Vancouver’s changing real estate market, subscribe via RSS or email. contact Maggie when you’re ready to buy or sell vancouver real estatewhen you’re ready to buy or sell in Coal Harbour, contact Maggie, an experienced realtor marketing vancouver homes since 1981
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