Dan Fumano: Vancouver aims to turn Granville into a street that never sleeps

Can one street be both a nightlife district and a daytime hub?

Both things can coexist, say Vancouver city councillors who envision Granville Street as a true 24-hour downtown commerce and culture hub. However, they say, a street that never sleeps might not be the place for homes.

City hall is considering a revitalization of downtown Granville, which is still one of the city’s best-known streets, but has struggled recently. There are still many reasons to visit Granville, and it’s obviously a desirable location.

But even before the COVID-19 pandemic’s arrival — and more so since then — Granville’s grandeur was fading.

“Today, Granville Street is challenged by a lack of daytime activity, vacant storefronts, safety and public disorder concerns, violence related to public intoxication, and rising concerns about people experiencing homelessness,” says a staff report going to Vancouver council next week.