[raggedy13]

Carrall Street Greenway

http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/carrall/graphics/photos/home_1.jpg

City Website: http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/carrall/index.htm

"The Carrall Street Greenway is a major public realm, community building and economic revitalization initiative.

The route will link north False Creek with the Burrard Inlet, completing a seawall loop around Downtown and Stanley Park, and connecting a series of parks, plazas and historic sites in Gastown, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and Chinatown.

Beyond providing a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly transportation corridor, the greenway will also connect and build on the unique heritage character of these neighbourhoods, encourage active ground floor uses, and serve as a catalyst for economic revitalization and community development.

This project has received significant support from the public and private sectors as well as the local communities. The City of Vancouver has approved $5 million for the Carrall Street Greenway in the 2006-2008 capital budget plan. As well, the Vancouver Agreement partners and Bell Canada have committed $300,000 to the project as part of the Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization Plan."

---------------------------------------------------------

^There's a little background info for those who may not know much about this. I hadn't kept myself much up to date with this so I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across the partially completed beginnings of this project yesterday. I snapped a few pics as well...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Sept%2022%202007/100_9456.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Sept%2022%202007/100_9457.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Sept%2022%202007/100_9455.jpg

[Canadian Mind]

oooh, I like.

PS. is that cobblestone parking stalls? If so, I feel perhapes that area or portion of the greenway should have been cobblestone aswell. :(

anyways, sounds like a good plan... I can't wait for the day i can ride my bike around downtown Vancouver. :D

[twoNeurons]

cobblestone sucks for rollerblades.

[deasine]

Everything about Carall St. Greenway is a good thing. Also note it's referred as the "recreational sea wall."

For more design information, visit:
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/carrall/greenway_design.htm

Display Boards:
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/pdf/CarrallDec15OHBoards1.pdf
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/pdf/CarrallDec15OHBoards2.pdf
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/pdf/CarrallDec15OHBoards3.pdf
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/pdf/CarrallDec15OHBoards4.pdf
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/streets/greenways/city/pdf/CarrallDec15OHBoards5.pdf

Also note one interesting fact of the greenway:
FUTURE STREETCAR
The greenway will accommodate two stops, at Cordova St and Water St, for the future streetcar. Council approved a downtown streetcar system in principle after a previous public process. This system would provide an attractive transit service in and around the downtown peninsula. It would link destinations such as Granville Island, Chinatown, Yaletown, Gastown, and Stanley Park.

[SpongeG]

connects the habour and false creek nicely it seems

[agrant]

I love wide sidewalks. Something that is lacking in Vancouver.

[deasine]

^I especailly like the wide bike lanes on the RIGHT of the parking lane... It feels like more of an extension of a sidewalk rather than on the road. This makes it much safer (for cars and bikes)

[squeezied]

i want too familiar with this project at first, but after taking a look at it i'm really starting to like it.

[officedweller]

^I especailly like the wide bike lanes on the RIGHT of the parking lane... It feels like more of an extension of a sidewalk rather than on the road. This makes it much safer (for cars and bikes)

Gordon Price shows an example of that configuration in NYC at his blog.
I think that works for a recreational path like this greenway, but for a commuter route, the parked cars would impede the cyclist from switching lanes to make turns. This could lead to unpredictable behaviour if a yclist darts from between cars to get to the centre lane to make a turn.
Essentially, this configuration treats the cyclist like a pedestrian, rather than like a vehicle.

[agrant]

I think as a cyclist, I'd want that barrier. Given the often hairy situations car traffic can bring, those narrow bike lanes painted in the street wouldn't feel good enough for me. But that's just me.

[Rusty Gull]

In earlier renderings of the Greenway (at least ones I saw in 2005), there was a bridge crossing the train tracks in Gastown -- which essentially connected the Greenway from False Creek to the Harbour (and by extension, to the Seabus or Helijet or Coal Harbour).

Is the bridge still going to be constructed? I think it would be a great addition.

[jlousa]

Yes there are still plans for a pedestrian/bike bridge over the tracks connecting the greenway to crab park and linking up to an extended seawall. There are no working drawings of the bridge yet, but if you search you can probably encounter a few rough renderings.

[officedweller]

As an aside, I've always thought that a bridge over the tracks should be built in conjunction with a Gastown Skytrain Station. The bridge could have stairs off its sides to provide access down to the platform.

[twoNeurons]

*sigh* it would be so nice to see some eastern expansion or at least the ROW set aside for an extension of the Expo Line. If they're not using those TBMs, how about it?

[leftside]

The connection from False Creek to Carrall (crossing Pacific) has started. I saw the pavement connection on Monday.

I think they start work on the north end of the Greenway (around Gassy Jack statue) at the end of next summer.

[worldwide]

this is a great project. i wouldnt ride my bike on it though. i see it more as traffic calming and pedestrian realm improvements.

because it is an extension of the sidewalk it is bound to have people walking on it or standing not paying attention.

it would be slower especially at intersections. biking in the road gives you the clearest sight lines in urban areas because you are further removed from blind corners at alleyways and crosswalks

bikes are vehicles capable of car speeds, especially downtown where you can travel much faster than the average car. bikes should be integrated into our roads. roads are not only for cars they are for everybody. more bikes on the street means more driver awareness. out of sight out of mind.

i actually disaprove of people biking on sidewalks i think its a huge saftey issue for pedestrians and the bikers themselves

[Jacques]

well it so funny that you guys just noticed this greenbelt, they started last year, it took them one year to do between Keifer and Pender, now they are working on Keifer south to Pacific, yet when the public discussion and open house was held, it was requested that they proceed north, before going toward the water edge of false creek, naturally this isn't happening and we in Gastown still awaits our sidewalks to be cleaned and rid of the trash and drug infested losers hanging around day and night.
If you listen to the city planner about this project I guarantee you have the time to die and be resurrected three times before it will ever be finished, a lots of verbal dhiaria in my books.
It was called at an open house here in Gastown fives years ago ideas and proposal for the overpass at the foot of Carrall leading to Crab park, to no avail would any of this come to fruition as far as I am concern at the speed the city is working on this project it might be finish in the next century

[Jacques]

The connection from False Creek to Carrall (crossing Pacific) has started. I saw the pavement connection on Monday.

I think they start work on the north end of the Greenway (around Gassy Jack statue) at the end of next summer.

around the Gassy Jack site was supposed
to have been done in 2006 take a look at the link and who can read more as when this project started, Chinatown cried so much all over the place they started in the middle and I gathered they felt threatened by all the junkies they moved southwards instead of following the proposed route of completion, so Gastown once more is left to last

[SFUVancouver]

The first section of the Carrall Street Greenway is complete.
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2894/p1050136wx1.jpg
(My photo)

It is now being extended south to the Seawall at False Creek and in time it will be extended north to Gastown and eventually the as-yet-unbuilt Seawall to the north in the Port lands.
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/865/p1050129mq5.jpg
(My photo)

[djh]

around the Gassy Jack site was supposed
to have been done in 2006 take a look at the link and who can read more as when this project started, Chinatown cried so much all over the place they started in the middle and I gathered they felt threatened by all the junkies they moved southwards instead of following the proposed route of completion, so Gastown once more is left to last

My Goodness, City of Vancouver is s-l-o-w. Drives me nuts.

[Overground]

Thanks for the photos! It looks really good and I like the black bollards, though I wish they had used ornamental ones. Costs were probably to blame.

[deasine]

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667286_377.jpg
Chinatown @ Carrall Street ~ Picture by Me

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667287_720.jpg
Carrall Street Greenway [as you can see, people walk on the bike lanes] ~ Picture by Me

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667288_1065.jpg
Carrall Street Greenway ~ Picture by Me

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667289_1700.jpg
Carrall Street Greenway ~ Picture by Me

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667289_1700.jpg
Carrall Street Greenway Construction [south of keefer] ~ Picture by Me

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667291_2724.jpg
Carrall Street Greenway ~ Picture by Me

http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/)
This work (above) is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/).

[mr.x]

somebody deserves a towing
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667288_1065.jpg

[leftside]

I rode my bike down Carrall yesterday to Pacific and then to the seawall. It's starting to look very nice down there! The developments West of Carrall along the Seawall are really taking shape as well. I continued through Yaletown, English Bay, around Stanley Park, Coal Harbour, Convention Centre and then to Crab Park in Gastown. The only time I was on the road was when I hit the convention centre. Amazing views of Vancouver.

[deasine]

I rode my bike down Carrall yesterday to Pacific and then to the seawall. It's starting to look very nice down there! The developments West of Carrall along the Seawall are really taking shape as well. I continued through Yaletown, English Bay, around Stanley Park, Coal Harbour, Convention Centre and then to Crab Park in Gastown. The only time I was on the road was when I hit the convention centre. Amazing views of Vancouver.

I too rode my bike yesterday while taking the pics. Too bad the bike lanes aren't complete... Oh well we can wait =)

[worldwide]

somebody deserves a towing
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2667288_1065.jpg

who? the guy parked in the designated on-street parking or the guy driving down the road.?

tow em both and send them a bus pass in the mail.

[leftside]

I noticed a sign up at Carrall and Cordova advising the public that buses will soon be diverted as construction of the Carrall Street Greenway in Gastown is to commence this summer.

[johnjimbc]

Who does he think he is anyway? That's a designated dead-zone ; ).

[SFUVancouver]

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6972/carrallstreetgreenwaynorr0.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, August 7th, 2008.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1459/carrallstreetgreenwaynont9.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, August 7th, 2008.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4170/carrallstreetgreenwaynobf9.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, August 7th, 2008.

It's coming along. I bet the crews cannot wait to spend their days beside pigeon park...

[Locked In]

From: http://www.vancouversun.com/Greenway+plan+revised+preserve+year+trees/1258319/story.html


Greenway plan revised to preserve 40-year-old trees

By Catherine Rolfsen, Vancouver Sun - February 5, 2009


http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/news/vancouver/1258320.bin


A plan has been hatched to save six red maples on Carrall Street instead of felling them to make way for a greenway.

Eddie Emerman, who owns the Blarney Stone Irish Pub, received the ironic news on Tuesday that plans for the Carrall Street Greenway, a cycling and walking corridor that will eventually link Burrard Inlet with False Creek, would mean taking down six trees.

An e-mail from City of Vancouver planner Tanis Knowles explained that the trees, estimated to be about 40 years old, “are nearing the end of their lifespan and will be further compromised by the planned construction work.” They were to be felled on Wednesday, according to the e-mail.

“We were just shocked. People were just shocked,” said Emerman, who is a board member of the Gastown Business Improvement Association. “It’s supposed to be a greenway. I don’t know how you justify cutting down trees on a greenway.”

But as of Thursday, the trees were still standing and the greenway plan had been revised to keep them in place.

Drew Gilchrist, arboriculture superintendent for the Vancouver park board, said the plan to fell the trees had been the result of a miscommunication. Sidewalk improvements underway on Carrall Street would have meant damaging the trees’ root structure, he said, and so it was assumed the trees had to go.

But Gilchrist said the plans for the sidewalk will be altered and the trees saved. “Obviously in the Downtown Eastside we really want to maintain as many trees as possible,” he said.

Coun. Heather Deal told The Vancouver Sun the trees’ salvation was due in large part to the quick response of concerned neighbours like Emerman.

The Carrall Street Greenway plan calls for the narrowing of the roadway on Carrall, the expansion of sidewalks and the creation of recreational paths for cyclists, skateboarders and in-line skaters. According to Knowles’s e-mail, it’s scheduled to be complete in April.

crolfsen@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[wrenegade]

This is good news. Definitely will have to go take a look (and some photos) on a nice day in April or May.

[zivan56]

Saving end of life and dead trees? Gotta love Vancouver :rolleyes:

[Architype]

Saving end of life and dead trees? Gotta love Vancouver :rolleyes:
They are good at that, and although people (like me) do get upset when mature trees are cut down, there is usually a good reason for it. Trees can look fine on the outside, but not so good on the inside.

Anyway, the work in this area is really making it stand out now.

[agrant]

From what I've read, the expected lifespan of a red maple is around 100 years. Possibly a bit less in this location, but should live much longer than 40 years you'd think.

[leftside]

They've done a lot of good work this week on the Water to Cordova section. They must be saving "the best bit" between Cordova and Hastings until last. Perhaps the construction crews are building up courage to deal with the hordes of crackheads and dealers. The opening of even more social housing in that area (Pennsylvania Hotel and Rainer Hotel for drug addicted women) seems to made the problem even worse lately.

The tourists that come to Vancouver are going to love all the sights and sounds on their way to Chinatown from Gastown!

[flight_from_kamakura]

wasn't the lifecycle ending because of the effect of the construction of the greenway on the root system? and don't the changes prolong the life of the trees? i doubt parks is that silly...

[Metro-One]

:previous: I know, i always fear that without proper rehab and medical services built into these social housing units that they will just become slums and instead of helping those from the area all they will do is attract more crackheads and dealers from other parts of the country to come here for a free ride. Basically, i fear they become enablers when they are built without rules or regulations.

[racc]

this is a great project. i wouldnt ride my bike on it though. i see it more as traffic calming and pedestrian realm improvements.

because it is an extension of the sidewalk it is bound to have people walking on it or standing not paying attention.

it would be slower especially at intersections. biking in the road gives you the clearest sight lines in urban areas because you are further removed from blind corners at alleyways and crosswalks

bikes are vehicles capable of car speeds, especially downtown where you can travel much faster than the average car. bikes should be integrated into our roads. roads are not only for cars they are for everybody. more bikes on the street means more driver awareness. out of sight out of mind.

i actually disaprove of people biking on sidewalks i think its a huge saftey issue for pedestrians and the bikers themselves

The concept is fine. Only about 1% of the population wants to cycle in traffic. The rest want separation from traffic. On Carrall Street, they probably should have paved the bike path instead of using concrete so it doesn't look like a sidewalk. As well, they should have had it at a lower level than the sidewalk. This is what they do in Europe and it seems to work well. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how it works.

Anyway ,there are enough streets that don't have separated bike paths around the city if that is really what you want. On Carrall Street, if you really want to cycle on the road, there is nothing stopping you.

[djmk]

Vancouver Park Board wants to spruce up Pigeon Park


John Ackermann VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) | Thursday, February 26th, 2009 6:45 am


VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - It's one of the focal points of the Downtown Eastside -- a hangout for the homeless and down-and-out.
Pigeon Park is gritty, dirty, and often covered in trash, but the Vancouver Park Board is hoping to change that.

The $187,000 dollar proposal would see Pigeon Park "gentrified" with brand-spanking new benches, tables, a washroom, brighter lighting, and even a new drinking fountain.
It's all part of the board's Carrall Greenway Project -- which aims make the street -- one of the city's more unsightly stretches --- safe and attractive in time for Olympic tourists.

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20090226_094629_7836

[Hed Kandi]

Vancouver Park Board wants to spruce up Pigeon Park


John Ackermann VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) | Thursday, February 26th, 2009 6:45 am


VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - It's one of the focal points of the Downtown Eastside -- a hangout for the homeless and down-and-out.
Pigeon Park is gritty, dirty, and often covered in trash, but the Vancouver Park Board is hoping to change that.

The $187,000 dollar proposal would see Pigeon Park "gentrified" with brand-spanking new benches, tables, a washroom, brighter lighting, and even a new drinking fountain.
It's all part of the board's Carrall Greenway Project -- which aims make the street -- one of the city's more unsightly stretches --- safe and attractive in time for Olympic tourists.

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20090226_094629_7836


God help the tourists who happen to stumble upon Pigeon Park.

[leftside]

Amazingly it's not so bad these days since they cut down the bushes. I live in Gastown and always used to walk down Cordova to get to the skytrain at Stadium.

But, recently I've been walking down Carrall and then Hastings as it is "nicer" than the crackhead tent city that is currently residing along Cordova. Despite the city and the police best efforts to keep that street clean it quickly degenerates.

There were lots of comments from people supporting the police attempts to keep the street clean, but Mr. Eby was surprised at these comments and then disabled them!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsC-4ilHfDs

[deasine]

A few pictures on the finished portion of Carrall Street. It's great... I wish there were more bike routes designed like this.

http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329855_3896763.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-a.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329856_1891914.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-b.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329857_1363610.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-c.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329858_3444809.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-d.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329859_6298092.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

Finally, some construction and work actually done on Carrall! =D

http://photos-e.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329860_2353083.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-f.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329861_128191.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-g.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329862_3827833.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329863_7216384.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

http://photos-a.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2707/79/110/537325252/n537325252_6329864_8087534.jpg
Source: My Photo, Hosted on Facebook

[worldwide]

i just ride in the street anyways, but it looks great.

[metroXpress]

Deasine, the third photo you got there has the signs that are exactly like the ones at VCC...cool!

[Whalleyboy]

Deasine, the third photo you got there has the signs that are exactly like the ones at VCC...cool!

I noticed that too. I thought that was actually kind a nice having same looking signs around the city.

[Locked In]

My photos, taken today:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/SxsEPDBM8wI/AAAAAAAABi4/IdO9tl1xNGg/s800/IMG_2934.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/SxsEQJaHcaI/AAAAAAAABi8/lysoYk4_yOU/s800/IMG_2935.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/SxsERSRussI/AAAAAAAABjA/DAmPt9vPUl0/s800/IMG_2938.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/SxsESanFZZI/AAAAAAAABjE/RgDY63YtdjI/s800/IMG_2944.jpg

[Hed Kandi]

When is the expected completion of the Greenway? Will it be finished prior to the Olympics?

[geoff's two cents]

Beautiful. Easily my favorite part of the city culturally and architecturally. Can't wait to spend some time down there in a week or so.

[flight_from_kamakura]

coming into the homestretch. beautiful work down there, hopefully a model for a few other streets (robson, for instance).

[Windex]

It'll be great to see it finished up finally.

[duener]

Thanks for the pics... that refurbed building in the first one looks gorgeous. I can see this area quickly becoming the best part of town*. It's always had the most soul, being trapped in time the way it is. It seems like a critical mass is building. I see the Irish Heather guy is building a Spanish tapas place in nearby Blood Alley. Can't wait to see how it all evolves.

*I like urban places

[jlousa]

There's a pretty cool whiskey joint hidden behind the Irish Heather, you have to walk thru it to get to it. It's called Shebeen and they have ~100 different types of whiskeys on the menu. Pretty impressive.

[metroXpress]

The park bench looks nice~ thanks

[SFUVancouver]

My photos, taken today:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/SxsEPDBM8wI/AAAAAAAABi4/IdO9tl1xNGg/s800/IMG_2934.jpg



Looking at this city's Edwardian commercial architecture can be painful sometimes, if only because it so often looks shabby after decades of neglect. It is also because I have always wished I could have seen the buildings when they were brand new and brimming with confidence. Seeing this and other Edwardian gems fully restored to their original granduer is wonderful and it just completely surpasses the aesthetics of our modern glassed-in commercial retail units. In my eyes low- and mid-rise commercial and residential architecture reached its zenith in the Edwardian era.

Regarding Pidgeon Park, I am glad to see that the benches do not feature those vile anti-sleeping bits. I think that people should be able to sleep on benches if they need to and it makes for a highly visible idicator of our collective progress as a society. I cannot wait for the Carral Street Greenway to be completed and, hopefully, another one is immediately announced. I would like to see a rolling process of building these types of streets throughout the city. It may take decades to build out a full city-wide network of genuine bicycle streets like these but it is a process I would like to see started asap.

[Locked In]

^ Thanks for pointing that out SFU. I had no idea these storefronts were Edwardian - but I like them a lot. So what's stopping more podiums in new developments from taking this form? Brick, wooden window frames, a little less glazing... it would be a wonderful change from the norm (e.g. Atelier). Plus, I would have thought developers would jump at the chance given how expensive glass apparently is.

Also, does anyone know what the next Greenway the city constructs is likely to be?

[flight_from_kamakura]

^ next greenways are helmcken and bute, or have those already been completed? (shows how often i'm around there/perceptive i am)

[leftside]

Thanks for the pics... that refurbed building in the first one looks gorgeous. I can see this area quickly becoming the best part of town*. It's always had the most soul, being trapped in time the way it is. It seems like a critical mass is building. I see the Irish Heather guy is building a Spanish tapas place in nearby Blood Alley. Can't wait to see how it all evolves.

*I like urban places
I see you are from London. So am I. I saw the potential for Gastown when I moved to Vancouver 7 years ago and purchased a loft a year later in Gastown. The area is far from perfect (still lot's of homeless, drug dealers and concentrations of social services in nearby streets), but the improvements in more market housing, refurbished buildings, new restaurants and new shops has been quite remarkable.

Blood Alley has so much potential. Just need to get rid of that Fountain Hotel, house the residents in another area of town and have some restaurant/cafe patios backing onto the alley from Cordova Street. It could be so nice...

Looking forward to the Carrall Street Greenway completing soon. It looks very nice, I'm just not sure what they can do about all the dealers and users along the stretch from Cordova to Hastings. Hopefully the world's media will force our justice system to have a little more teeth.

[duener]

^^actually I'm from Vancouver, but live in London.

Agreed that Blood Alley has tons of potential. All it would need is 2-4 cafes/restaurants to fill the space with tables and chairs, sort of like St. Christopher's Place just off Oxford Street in London.

I thought Maple Tree square was also getting redesigned to tighten up the lanes where cars drive across it.

Also I thought I read somewhere that as part of the Carrall Street redevelopment, the city installed power outlets for street vendors. I noticed at Portobello Road market all the vendors plug into outlets hidden in bollards. So that could also enhance the kinds of activities on the street, making it a special destination and rejuvenating the area.

[s211]

Regarding Pidgeon Park, I am glad to see that the benches do not feature those vile anti-sleeping bits. I think that people should be able to sleep on benches if they need to and it makes for a highly visible idicator of our collective progress as a society.

A vagrant passed out on a bench is a sign of collective progress? Only if you define progress as a death march.

[Canadian Mind]

I think he means that when people are no longer passing out on benches, that we will have progressed as a society.

Sadly, we will never have people not sleeping on benches.

[vanman]

@s211

Collective progress, as in comfortable benches not occupied by sleeping homeless. I get the message that SFU is trying to convey.

[delboy]

Looking at this city's Edwardian commercial architecture can be painful sometimes, if only because it so often looks shabby after decades of neglect. It is also because I have always wished I could have seen the buildings when they were brand new and brimming with confidence. Seeing this and other Edwardian gems fully restored to their original granduer is wonderful and it just completely surpasses the aesthetics of our modern glassed-in commercial retail units. In my eyes low- and mid-rise commercial and residential architecture reached its zenith in the Edwardian era.

Regarding Pidgeon Park, I am glad to see that the benches do not feature those vile anti-sleeping bits. I think that people should be able to sleep on benches if they need to and it makes for a highly visible idicator of our collective progress as a society. I cannot wait for the Carral Street Greenway to be completed and, hopefully, another one is immediately announced. I would like to see a rolling process of building these types of streets throughout the city. It may take decades to build out a full city-wide network of genuine bicycle streets like these but it is a process I would like to see started asap.

I agree, i too love the Edwardian era. It always surprises me when people lament how there is no architecture in vancouver or older buildings. And it's not only gas town, but the west georgia/pender areas and not to mention east/west hastings.

Gastown has remarkable potential, still much to be done, but seems to be heading in the right direction. Hopefully the extended drinking hours will spur some night life into the area.

[leftside]

Gastown has remarkable potential, still much to be done, but seems to be heading in the right direction. Hopefully the extended drinking hours will spur some night life into the area.
There is already a lot of night life in the area ;) Should be a nice new lounge type bar opening soon at the back of Chill Winston.

[jlousa]

It's actually under Chill Winston not behind it. :tup:

[djh]

...and another club/lounge will be opening near the Gassy Jack statue, near Six Acres.

So yes, plenty of night life in Gastown. It's actually far more interesting and varied than the bridge & tunnel Friday Fight Club called the Granville Strip.

[leftside]

Nice to Carrall Street open again. The Greenway should look nice once the trees have grown a bit more. Would love to see the pedestrian bridge built one day over the rail tracks to Crab Park...