The Vancouver Lifestyle
Pre-1980's the public at large viewed Vancouver as nothing more than a squalid mill town beseeched by rain 300 days of the year. Expo ’86 changed all that forever. The city did an incredible job of cleaning up it's many industrial sites and during the 10 solid days of nothing but beautiful sunshine, demonstrated to the world that Vancouver was truly an unpolished diamond with incredible ocean and mountain views ready to be invested in.
With great fortune, Vancouver was picked as the host for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and real estate investors are watching this date very closely. Much like the massive clean up and infrastructure improvements spawned the first major real estate boom in Vancouver in 1986, many experts believe that the exact same thing is going to happen with the 2010 games, but on a much larger scale.
Perhaps no housing and real estate market in North America is as healthy or contains as much potential as the city of Vancouver.
Surrounded by natural beauty and enjoying a mild climate year-round, Vancouverites have a healthy, outdoor-oriented lifestyle. Activities are abundant and always available throughout and just steps away from the city.
Within the city you will find delectable cuisine, eclectic shopping zones, lush parks, museums, art galleries and extensive performing arts events.
If you enjoy shopping, Robson Street is a must. This stretch is home to many of the world's most famous retailers. You will also find great buys in Gastown, Chinatown, Yaletown, and at our famous Granville Island market.
Included among the city's "must-see" highlights are the Vancouver Aquarium at Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge in the lush forest at the base of the North Shore mountains, and Grouse Mountain, with its year-round activities, fabulous views and gondola ride.
Vancouverites love to eat and local restaurateurs cater to their every desire, from take-out fish and chips on Denman Street to four-star french cuisine at Lumiere. You will find that the city's diverse cultures are reflected in a choice of foods from every corner of the world.
It is easy to see why Greater Vancouver's more than two million inhabitants choose to stay -- and why its eight million annual overnight visitors keep coming back.
Once a gritty area of train yards, loading bays and brick warehouses, Yaletown has undergone a facelift and is now a stylish mix of the fashion-savvy, dot-commers and celebrities. Some of the city's hippest destinations are here: high-end galleries, chic fashion and furnishings boutiques, high-concept restaurants, brew pubs, trendy salons and even movie sets share its narrow streets.
It is the neighbourhood of choice for urban trendsetters - both as a night time destination and a place to call home.
Yaletown sits at the south-eastern tip of downtown Vancouver.
Coal Harbour
Coal Harbour is home to some of Vancouver's premiere residential properties, corporate headquarters, and financial institutions.
Here you will find a mix of low rise condominiums and luxury townhomes as well as modern architectural- distinguished high rises. Many buildings feature a contemporary feel offering floor to ceiling windows and larger floorplans to take advantage of unobstructed views of the Northshore Mountains, Lions Gate Bridge, and Burrard Inlet.
Comprised of 23 acres stretching from Canada Place to Cardero Street along the Burrard Inlet shore.
West End
Vancouver’s original upscale neighborhood this coveted area known for its peacefulness, numerous community centre’s, lack of commercial businesses and probably best noted for its proximity to World renowned Stanley Park and English Bay.
A lack of new developments has allowed this area a sense of heritage and style establishing itself as a tightly knit community and one that sees little turnover in the way of real estate.
The largest area of the downtown peninsula – borderd by Burrard St to the east and Georgia St to the North.
Gastown
The historic district of Gastown is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood and is a favourite destination of tourists. Victorian lamp lined cobblestone streets reveal artist studios, designers' shops, First Nations' galleries and antique stores in refurbished heritage buildings.
Gastown's structures share a common Late Victorian and Edwardian commercial vernacular indicative of the region's development in the late 19th century. Much like Yaletown you will find unique heritage converted lofts and live/work studios. Development of high-rise towers has recently begun and offers great value as the neighborhood matures.
Gastown lies just East and within walking distance of downtown Vancouver.
International Village
In 1990, the Vancouver City Council approved the rezoning of this site of just over 21 acres, fifteen of which
have been developed to date.
The development includes a school, a daycare facility for 45 children, as well as other community space. It also includes a significant commercial component.
International Village lies at the eastern end of the downtown peninsula.
Kitsilano
Kitsilano is a vibrant neighbourhood and shopping area with a unique collection of one-of-a-kind shops, niche boutiques, sports stores and restaurants set against a breathtaking backdrop of both city and mountain.
This area is highlighted with heritage buildings and a lack of new developments.
Located minutes south of downtown.
Mount Pleasant
This area has gathered a lot of attention as the heavy growth of Vancouver begun spilling over into neighboring regions. There are some unique loft and live/work spaces and some offer great mountain, city, and water views.
This area is currently under a lot of development both with new condominium residential development, and civic expansion.
Located a few minutes East of Downtown and Gastown.
South Granville and Fairview
This area offers quieter side streets and great access to some of Vancouver’s best shopping. In the past five years South Granville has become known to rival Robson St as a shopping destination and become a prized residential area.
Here you will enjoy a vast variety of architectural styles, from 60 year old converted apartment houses, to townhouses, to new high-rise luxury condominiums.
This area is just south of the city.
