Vancouver’s Gastown could become more pedestrian-friendly

One of Vancouver’s most beloved and historic neighbourhoods could soon look, and feel, very different.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim was in Gastown Tuesday to speak about a motion that includes making the area more pedestrian-friendly.

Next week, Council will consider a motion to deliver a bold new vision for Gastown including:
Repairing roads and sidewalks
Exploring options to pedestrianize Water Street
Starting a planning process to enhance public spaces#vanpoli pic.twitter.com/PdRIuPABMH

— Mayor Ken Sim (@KenSimCity) May 2, 2023

Sim was joined by Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung for the announcement who says “the motion will address both the immediate and urgent needs of Gastown.”

“The motion will direct staff to immediately address patching repairs and improvements for Water Street,” Kirby-Yung said.

Along with repairs, there were also talks of having a car-free shutdown of the street, which the city may pilot either this summer or next year.

“The centerpiece of the vision includes pedestrianizing Water Street, looking at the options to make it either car-free or car-light on a seasonal or on a year-round basis,” she said. 

There is also consideration of making Cordova Street traffic a two-way street to help with traffic flow.

Sim says Gastown is an important part of the city that has been neglected for some time, and more needs to be done.

“Gastown is one of Vancouver’s most loved, and historically significant neighborhoods. It’s the birthplace of our city and it’s been central to many of Vancouver’s defining moments,” Sim said.

“But as much as we treasure Gastown and the role it’s played in the story of our city, we know that there remains incredibly untapped potential. Decades of underinvestment have led to the deterioration of many of the streets in the neighborhood. Improperly maintained infrastructure and the lack of a clear, cohesive plan for this neighborhood has had an impact on residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

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Gastown has suffered since the start of the pandemic. Impacted by a lack of tourism, crime, fatal fires, and public safety concerns.

But when Sim was asked about addressing violent incidents in the neighbourhood, he referred to his campaign promise of hiring 100 new police officers and mental health workers.

“We’ve already started that work…we’ve made investments in revitalizing Chinatown, I know it’s not this area, but when you do work on an adjacent area it does have spillover effects.”

The motion is set to be presented at Vancouver City Council on May 9, with the revitalization plan slated to cost around $10 million.