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Gastown Public Spaces Plan

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Intersection of Water Street and Cambie street with Gastown steamclock in background

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Help us make Gastown’s unique streets, laneways and public spaces more vibrant and people-friendly!

Gastown is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. It is an important heritage district and popular destination in Vancouver. Many of the streets and public spaces in Gastown are in need of repair and rehabilitation, and we are exploring pedestrianizing areas of this neighbourhood to support vibrant public life.

In response to Council direction [PDF, 0.2MB], staff are creating a plan that will guide how to:

  • Establish a vibrant, people-focused Gastown with enhanced gathering places, streets, and laneways to support a range of activities.
  • Pedestrianize Water Street, seasonally or year-round, starting with a pedestrian pilot in summer 2024.
  • Improve the street network, including walking, cycling, transit and vehicle connections and consideration of Cordova as a two-way street.
  • Advance Reconciliation with the local Nations and support their visibility on their lands.
  • Evolve and deepen the unique heritage feel of the area, including improved street materials and amenities.
  • Identify phased project timing and funding.

How to get involved

This July and August, Water Street will become a pedestrian zone with public seating, expanded patios, art, and other installations.

Learnings from the pilot and public engagement will help inform future pedestrian zone pilot planning. It will also inform the overall approach to pedestrianizing Water Street in the Gastown Public Space Plan.

Next steps

There will be many more opportunities this fall to share feedback on design approaches for Gastown’s public spaces, including a community survey and open houses. Sign up for our mailing list to get project updates, including opportunities to get involved.

繁體中文 | 简体中文 | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ | Tagalog | Tiếng Việt | Español

Help us make Gastown’s unique streets, laneways and public spaces more vibrant and people-friendly!

Gastown is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. It is an important heritage district and popular destination in Vancouver. Many of the streets and public spaces in Gastown are in need of repair and rehabilitation, and we are exploring pedestrianizing areas of this neighbourhood to support vibrant public life.

In response to Council direction [PDF, 0.2MB], staff are creating a plan that will guide how to:

  • Establish a vibrant, people-focused Gastown with enhanced gathering places, streets, and laneways to support a range of activities.
  • Pedestrianize Water Street, seasonally or year-round, starting with a pedestrian pilot in summer 2024.
  • Improve the street network, including walking, cycling, transit and vehicle connections and consideration of Cordova as a two-way street.
  • Advance Reconciliation with the local Nations and support their visibility on their lands.
  • Evolve and deepen the unique heritage feel of the area, including improved street materials and amenities.
  • Identify phased project timing and funding.

How to get involved

This July and August, Water Street will become a pedestrian zone with public seating, expanded patios, art, and other installations.

Learnings from the pilot and public engagement will help inform future pedestrian zone pilot planning. It will also inform the overall approach to pedestrianizing Water Street in the Gastown Public Space Plan.

Next steps

There will be many more opportunities this fall to share feedback on design approaches for Gastown’s public spaces, including a community survey and open houses. Sign up for our mailing list to get project updates, including opportunities to get involved.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Tell us about your experiences in Gastown

    Tell us about your experiences in Gastown

    Help us make Gastown’s unique streets, laneways and public spaces more vibrant and people-friendly!

    Building on past work and conversations, we want to hear your thoughts on the plan’s draft objectives, your current experience in Gastown, improvements you’d like to see, and better understand access and loading needs for businesses and residents in the area.  

    This survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete and is open until Sunday, November 19, 2023. Paper versions of this survey will also be available at the pop-up storefront (131 Water Street). 

    If you have any questions, please contact: gastownpublicspaces@vancouver.ca. 

    This survey is now closed

    This survey is now closed.
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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Tell us about your business's loading and access needs

    Tell us about your business's loading and access needs

    This survey is to understand the loading, access, and street-use needs for businesses, residential and commercial buildings located within the Gastown Public Spaces Plan study area. Note: this survey is not intended for individual residential units. 

    This survey will take around 10-15 minutes to complete and is open until Sunday, November 19, 2023. To fill out this survey, you will need to know your building’s or business’s:

    • Loading needs (pick-up, drop-off, location)
    • Access needs (how the business or building is accessed by customers, servicing, staff; by which transportation modes; where and when)
    • Street space needs (patios, merchandise displays)

    A better understanding of your loading, access and street space needs will help us:  

    • Develop concepts for the Gastown Public Spaces Plan, including improvements to the street network
    • Plan for pedestrianizing Water Street, starting with a pilot in summer 2024

    If you have any questions, please contact gastownpublicspaces@vancouver.ca.

    There are also additional opportunities for businesses and building managers to learn about the project and provide feedback. If you would like to provide general feedback related to the Gastown Public Space Plan, including pedestrianizing Water Street, please complete our public survey (open until Sunday, November 19). 

    Take the business survey


    Take Survey
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Page last updated: 28 Jun 2024, 11:45 AM