Downtown South is an emerging neighbourhood in downtown Vancouver from Burrard Street to Seymour Street between Pacific and Davie Streets. Located just minutes from the well established destinations such as the West End, Yaletown, and Granville Island, Downtown South is poised to become the next hot neighbourhood.
The revitalization started with the introduction of The Rolston in 2010, and now Downtown South is becoming one of the most talked about neighbourhoods within the city. With Cressey Development Group’s Maddox, and Concert’s Salt communities now well underway, and Westbank’s newly revealed designs for their upcoming project, this is a neighbourhood that’s sure to attract attention for years to come. And with these exciting communities, comes new amenities that will also attract residents to the area.
Yet many residents are unaware of the extensive nature of the changes that will be taking shape in the months ahead as new projects commence. The City of Vancouver is working hard to develop a commercial node that incorporates a high level of design and thoughtful architecture. Much like Yaletown, Granville Island, and South East False Creek, Downtown South will soon provide new opportunities for cafés, restaurants and retail.
What else is planned for this neighbourhood? Granville Street will soon be anchored by a grocery store, with additional retail opportunities being developed for future tenants. Seasonal structures that will create an outdoor market atmosphere are also being considered for the neighbourhood that could soon house flower stalls, fruit and vegetable stands and more (think Granville Island).
Perhaps the most striking change to this neighbourhood is the change to the road system that will be taking place. The goal is to ease the traffic that commutes downtown with the removal of the traffic loops as you enter and exit downtown Vancouver. This will allow for the development of a pedestrian friendly mixed use area.
With all these changes ahead, you may want to take another look at this neighbourhood as you will rapidly start to see the revitalization take shape offering good long-term potential!
Cameron McNeill
