How the city plans to fix the Granville Entertainment District

Good afternoon, 

Every week Nate and I meet to discuss the different stories coming up at the Lookout There are lots of stories in the pipeline that I can’t wait to share. There’s also one special series we’re almost ready to announce, so stay tuned for that!

Vancouver’s upcoming by-election on April 5 has an official number of candidates. We’re working on a few more stories surrounding this important election. And I’m proud to say we’ve managed to get interviews with most of the major candidates, with more coming soon. You can read all our coverage here.

Today we’re stepping outside the major news cycle to look back on an issue we didn’t get around to covering much when it happened.

Let’s dive in!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder

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WEATHER

Friday: 6 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

Saturday: 4 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

Sunday: 6 🌡️ 1 | ❄️🌧️

Monday: 6 🌡️ 1 |  🌧️

NUMBERS OF THE DAY

🌎️ 3: The number of earthquakes Vancouver residents have felt in the last 10 days. [Globe and Mail]

🏠️ 1,827: The number of sales in Metro Vancouver is February. That’s down 11 per cent from February last year, and  28.9 per cent below the 10-year average. [Real Estate Magazine]

👎️ 23rd: Vancouver’s ranking when it comes to favourite places to rent in Canada, out of 25 ranked. While Nanaimo may be ranked higher at 10th, partially due to affordability, I promise you Vancouver has a better summer experience! [Urbanized]  

👮 $226,000: The amount spent on a police security detail for Mayor Ken Sim over the past four months. [CTV]

DEVELOPMENT

How the city plans to fix the Granville Entertainment District

What happened: Anyone walking down Granville Street understands the area is in dire need of reimagining what a true entertainment area could look like. Luckily, earlier in February, the city released a set of proposals that could radically reshape the area over the coming decades.

Background: Granville Entertainment District has dealt with ever-increasing crime and closed storefronts, amongst other issues. Hotels have also shut down. The Downtown Vancouver Business Association published Granville St Reimagining, a report that looked at how the area has struggled after COVID, and declining shopping and dining, as more people seek out Yaletown and Gastown. 

• One major recent hiccup was the cancellation last year of a redevelopment by Bonnis Properties which planned a 17-story office tower, and preservation of the Commodore Ballroom, according to Vancouver Sun. 

The plan: The area in question stretches six blocks from West Georgia and Drake Street. The city is looking to increase the number of hotels and rental apartments in the neighbourhood, as well as increase the density. The street would become a pedestrian corridor free from busses and cars, according to Ubranized, with space for events and festivals.

View cone changes would be required to increase the height of the buildings, which would make them some of the tallest buildings in the city. Venues throughout the area, like Commodore Ballroom, Orpheum Theatre and Vogue Theatre would also see improvements and new venues would be built.  

• Granville and Robson could be re-imagined as a Landmark Destination, similar to New York, with concert events, and live screenings of sporting events. 

Timeline: The project has both short and medium-term plans, as well as longer 20-year projects. 

Controversy: One area of criticism is the decision to remove buses along Granville Street. The street is a crucial bus service area, with over 80,000 trips per day, according to the Vancouver Sun. Another group expressing concern are local businesses that have struggled for years. Many have said the plan does not help fix the area fast enough, and that they weren’t consulted, according to CBC. Local businesses have long called for dealing with street crime, and overnight SkyTrain service. 

• In the next five years, a pedestrian zone would be implemented, tests would be conducted on changing transit areas and updating zoning for new development. In 10 years, cultural spaces would be expanded and transit changes made permanent.

Why it matters: For a city like Vancouver, Granville Street should be a vibrant focus of both the nightlife and the daytime experience, for residents and tourists. Reshaping Granville is vital if the city wants to help shed its “no-fun” label, which in many ways stems from the lack of a clear, delineated nightlife area. 

Zoom out: Other cities in Canada have also faced questions about how to re-imagine their downtown core and entertainment districts. Ottawa is in the process of bringing its sports area closer to town and dealing with existing crime challenges in some of its most popular areas like ByWard Market. 

• Dig deeper: Storeys has a great overview of the history of the Granville Strip and how it’s evolved over the last few decades.

THE AGENDA

🚆 Remember that fiscal cliff TransLink is driving toward? Well the recent B.C. budget did not include funding to address the annual $600 million operating budget shortfall the transit provider could be facing by 2026. Without funding from the province or federal government, TransLink has warned they may need to cut a shocking amount of transit – up to 30 per cent of train and SeaBus operations and half their bus services. Vancouver would retain more of their bus routes than other municipalities, but at a lower frequency making those dreaded ‘Sorry bus full’ signs more common.  Transit funding can be made outside the budget process, TransLink said, adding they are still in conversation with the province to get money for their operations. In 2023 – a few weeks after tabling a budget that didn’t mention money for transit services – the province provided TransLink with $479 million in operational funding over two years. Stay tuned for more of our coverage on this. [TransLink, Urbanized] 

📄 The Jericho Lands development in West Point Grey is moving forward with its next step – an official development plan (ODP) – coming before city council next week. An ODP isn’t a requirement for the project but would create a city bylaw to provide more certainty a formalize aspects of the current policy statement approved in early 2024. The 90-acre project on the current site of West Point Grey Academy, a community centre, and the Canadian military’s Jericho Garrison is being developed by the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in partnership with Canada Lands Corp. [Urbanized]

👮A 29-year-old man has been charged after an altercation with police who were patrolling near Main and Hastings on Tuesday evening. Police say the man slashed the leg of an officer, who suffered serious injuries but is recovering. In 2020 the suspect was charged with manslaughter, with the judge in that case saying he had diagnoses for several concurrent mental health disorders. [CBC]

📈 For Vancouver concert-goers, higher ticket prices and fewer U.S. artists could be some of the consequences of the ongoing trade war and poor Canada-U.S. exchange rate. Venues and promoters need to pass on the higher costs of importing specialty goods, while American artists – especially marquee names who can command high rates – may not be affordable when being paid in American dollars. [Vancouver Sun]

👋 NHL defenceman Carson Soucy’s third goal of the year for Vancouver was also his last. After scoring the game-winning goal for the Canucks in a much-needed 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday he was promptly traded to the New York Rangers the next day for a third round pick. So much for ‘what have you done for me lately’ with the league’s trade deadline coming today at noon and the Canucks scuffling for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. [Canucks Army]

🌆 Peter Wall, a prominent Vancouver real estate developer, died this week. Wall was best known publicly for his Wall Centre project on Burrard Street downtown, the 48-storey hotel and condo tower bearing Wall’s name was the tallest building in the city from its completion in 2001 until 2008. The majority of shares in his company, which maintain a significant real estate portfolio including Wall Centre, will pass into a legacy trust in his name. [CBC, Emporis]

EVENT GUIDE

Otaku Bop: Ghibli Jazz Orchestra with MissingNo and Cowboy Bebop Bebop Band | Rickshaw Theatre, 254 E. Hastings Street | Mar. 7, 7:00 pm | Tickets $36

Nation Extreme Wrestling: Shadows of Tomorrow | The Wise, 1882 Adanac Street | Mar. 7, 7:30 pm | Tickets $18–$35

Festival du Bois | Mar. 7-9 | Mackin Park (Coquitlam) | Free entry Friday, Saturday and Sunday Tickets $34

CelticFest Vancouver | Various locations | Mar. 7–17 | Learn more

Dirty Little Secrets Improv Show | Chill x Studio, 2270 Manitoba Street | Mar. 8, 7:00 pm | Tickets $23

Black & White Gala | Rosewood Hotel Georgia, 801 West Georgia Street | Mar. 8, 7:00 pm (VIP), 8:00 pm (GA) | Tickets $166+

Loreto Aramendi: Spanish Organ Virtuoso in Concert | St. James Anglican Church, 303 East Cordova Street | Mar. 8, 7:30 pm | Tickets $25

The History of Bitters: From Treating Snakebites to Aperitivo Hour | Ventura Room, 695 Cambie Street | Mar. 8, 2:30 pm | Tickets $82

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 2025 | University Golf Club, 5185 University Boulevard | Mar. 9, 2:00 pm | Tickets $18

Evan Honer Spring Tour ‘25 | Monday Mar. 10, 8pm | Hollywood Theatre | Tickets $43

The Vancouver Sketch Fest | Tuesday Mar. 11, 6pm | Rio Theatre | Tickets $25

Fish + Sips: Lucky Tides | Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way | Mar. 14, 7:00 pm | Tickets  $35

Dane’s Dance Emporium | Saturday Mar. 15, 10pm | Commodore Ballroom | Tickets $29 

RESTAURANT REVIEW

SalaThai’s legacy lives on at Jay Nok

When the Flying Pig quietly closed its doors in Olympic Village, there were as many as 10 restaurant concepts vying for the space. Those of us who live in the neighbourhood hoped for something exciting (please, for the love of all that is holy, no more expensive omakase-style Japanese spots or restaurants touting “West Coast share plates”). Give us something bold! Something fun and unbuttoned!

Luckily, the winning bid came from husband-and-wife duo Bobby Kongsilp and Bumpen “Nok” Khangrang, who had a vision for a new-age Thai restaurant that built on the legacy of Kongsilp’s family, but took things in a decidedly fresh direction.

Kongsilp’s parents ran the legendary Sala Thai, which was a staple of the Vancouver food scene for nearly four decades and closed its downtown home in April 2024 due to an outrageous rent increase. Shortly thereafter, Kongsilp (who worked the front of house) and Khangrang (the restaurant’s long-time executive chef) went to Thailand—both to decompress and to get re-inspired. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• In case you were wondering, Cypress is an American-owned ski hill, while Grouse and Seymor are Canadian-owned

• There’s a new fish and chips shop opening up in East Vancouver. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• The latest Duct Tape magazine features the iconic Vancouver Special photos. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• While this bar is called The American, it’s decidedly Canadian (and they have great burgers). 

• Canada Soccer has announced details on scoring tickets for the FIFA World Cup. [Daily Hive]

VANCOUVER WORDLE

Think you can guess today’s Wordle? Play it here.

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