The future of Gastown: A ‘destination neighbourhood’ with mended streets, pedestrian-only zone

The future of Gastown might include a pedestrian-only zone along Water Street as Vancouver City Council devotes attention to a long-term vision for the city’s oldest neighbourhood.

Mayor Ken Sim and Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung announced on Tuesday that a motion will go to council May 9 to kick off the work, which will start with a $10 million injection over the next three years into street repair aimed at refurbishing the sagging and crumbling cobblestone brickwork.

Standing in the middle of Maple Tree Square, Coun. Kirby-Yung said the motion that will go before council will address Gastown’s most immediate need, evident by the noise of traffic clacking over the crumbling bricks of the streets nearby.

Longer term, “we’re looking at options to make Water Street car free or car-light” to make the key tourist attraction a more pedestrian friendly “destination neighbourhood,” Kirby-Yung said.

Sim admitted the work to revitalize Gastown will have to be done in balance with other efforts to deal with the city’s housing crisis, which is most acute in the neighbouring Downtown Eastside, but he argued that the city is already making progress in terms of public safety on East Hastings Street.