A coming influx of residential and commercial developments to the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona neighbourhoods is partly behind the Strathcona Business Improvement Association’s move to assess walkability and transportation issues in the area.
“There are a number of developments that haven’t been made public yet, but are still in the planning stages,” says Strathcona BIA executive director Joji Kumagai. “Right now there are a few low-rise buildings that have residential on the upper stories, but for the most part they are generally commercial spaces on the ground floor,” Kumagai says, adding that he anticipates more rezoning for residential is on its way.
For years, the stretch of East Hastings Street from Heatley Avenue to Clark Drive has sat mostly in an industrial zone. Now several zoning exemptions have been made to allow for market residential housing.
The Strathcona Village development just east of Campbell Avenue – the first in Vancouver, and possibly North America, to combine condos with light industrial – is set to welcome residents this fall, according to its website. Strathcona Village’s three towers will add around 280 market condos and 70 social housing units to the 900 block of the neighbourhood. Residential developments are also likely in the works for the 800 and 1000 blocks of East Hastings.
“What’s really unique about this walkability concept is that it brings it down to a scale that everyone can relate to and understand as the community changes,” says Kumagai, who adds that the Strathcona BIA’s walkability plan is focused on how the community is connected, rather than looking at individual projects.
The Made in Strathcona: Most Walkable Street 2021 plan launched earlier this year with a series of tours, pop up shops and a survey that collected data from more than 200 residents on issues such as neighbourhood amenities, safety, accessibility and social connectedness.
The Strathcona BIA is also looking at transportation in the lead-up to expected increases in pedestrian foot traffic and commercial vehicles along East Hastings as the area grows.
“We’ll have 40-foot container trucks trying to negotiate pretty narrow roads, because a lot of this community was built before ours existed,” says Kumagai, referring to Strathcona’s roots as Vancouver’s oldest residential neighbourhood.
Joe Chaput, who co-owns Les Amis du Fromage in the 800 block of East Hastings, says he has seen an increased number of pedestrians around their store, along with more awareness about that part of Vancouver in general.
“It’s certainly a hot area to live in,” he says. “It’s really central – sandwiched between Hastings-Sunrise, Chinatown, Gastown, Railtown and the [Commercial] Drive, and minutes from the Highway 1. You’re right in the middle of all these great places.”
The relative affordability of commercial and residential spaces in the Downtown Eastside – known for being one of Canada’s poorest postal codes – and Stathcona is likely adding to the allure.
“A lot of property seems in transition along East Hastings,” observes Chaput, “at least from us [800 block] to Clark [Drive].”
Last July, Strathcona Beer Company opened its doors on the 800 block of East Hastings. And this April the nə́c̓a?mat ct Strathcona branch public library opened on the 700 block, along with 21 units of affordable housing for single mothers.
The City of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Plan lists creating more social housing and rentals for low- and moderate-income households as a goal for revitalizing the area, along with attracting new and retaining local businesses.
“The whole strip is changing,” notes Barbara Borchardt, creator of the ILiveInEastVan blog. “The city keeps growing and people need places to live.” Trendy businesses are popping up just east and south of East Hastings and Clark Drive, she adds, where you’ll find a Starbucks between the No Frills grocery store and Gourmet Warehouse, and a recently opened Earnest Ice Cream shop – additions that likely add to the appeal of neighbouring areas.
Putting all this change into context is one of the goals of the Strathcona BIA, says Kumagai, along with maintaining an open dialogue about the community’s future.
