Homes In Vancouver BC

Historic Vancouver Walking Tours

Most people know about Little Italy, Hogan’s Alley, the East End’s early Jewish Community, and  Japantown, but did you know that there were whole blocks of Newfoundlanders and a sizable Syrian colony here as well in the early 1900s?

Join James Johnstone for one of his Historic Vancouver Walking Tours. James is a house history researcher, and history walking tour guide based in Vancouver's East End. So far he has researched over 700 houses in Vancouver, 250 of which are in his neighbourhood.

Prior to this James worked for a number of decades in Japanese tourism, escorting Japanese tours all across Canada and taking a number of Canadian tours to Japan. He speaks, reads and writes the language.

James currently serves on the board of Heritage Vancouver Society, is an active member of the Heatley Block Preservation Society, and also The Chair of the Friends of the Vancouver City Archives Society.

For more information on Historic Vancouver Walking Tours, please visit James Johnstone's Historic Vancouver Blog

Coal Harbour in Vancouver

If you are fortunate enough to live in a high rise in Coal Harbour, visit a friend who lives here, or perhaps stay in one of the hotels in the area, you can experience spectacular views of the North Shore Mountains, Stanley Park or sweeping views of the City of Vancouver. Not to worry though, you can also see some excellent views from the Coal Harbour Seawall. 

 The Seawall at Stanley Park continues to Coal Harbour and becomes the Coal Harbour Seawall, great for a bike ride or a brisk walk. Stop for lunch along the way to take in the view. Watch the Sea Planes take off and land while you enjoy the boats making their way through the Harbour. 

The majority of housing in Coal Harbour consists of high rise condominiums with a light sprinkling of townhouses for good measure. Coal Harbour is bordered by downtown Vancouver to the south, Stanley Park on the West and Gastown to the East. A convenient place to live if you work downtown. Only a short walk to the Seabus providing easy access to the North Shore and of course close to Skytrain. 

Highlights include:

• Awesome views of the North Shore Mountains
• The Coal Harbour Seawall for roller blading, biking or walking.

• Very close to downtown, walk, bike, transit
• Hook up easily to the bike route
  Bike Route Map

• Plenty to see in the Harbour including planes and boats
• Canada Line at the Sea-bus station offers great access
• Sea-bus to North Vancouver in 15 minutes

Vancouver West is Made up of 23 Sub Areas

Homes in Vancouver BC explores the different neighourhoods of Vancouver. Each neighbourhood lies within a sub area. In turn, these sub area names are used when searching the MLS for homes available in the Vancouver West region.

The goal of Homes in Vancouver BC is to help make it easier for you during your search for a new home. Areas and sub areas of Vancouver are important to know when you are searching for listings in printed Real Estate publications, searching Real Estate Agent websites or searching MLS listings on-line, and when speaking with your Real Estate Agent to note areas that you are interested in living.

Homes in Vancouver BC begins with the Vancouver West Area and the sub areas of Vancouver West, with the goal of adding Vancouver East, North Vancouver and continue from there.  The goal of Homes in Vancouver is to give insight and an overview on neighbourhoods you may want to live in and provide highlights to those areas.

Vancouver West is Made up of 23 Sub Areas which are recognized by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV).

Note: Vancouver West is an entirely different geographical area than West Vancouver! I just noted that since many newbies to the Vancouver area are not always aware of this.

The 23 Sub areas within Vancouver West are as follows:

• AR - Arbutus
• CA - Cambie
• CB - Coal Harbour
• DT - Downtown
• DU - Dunbar
• FA - Fairview
• FC - False Creek
• FN - False Creek North
• KE - Kerrisdale
• KT - Kitsilano
• MH - Mackenzie Heights
• MP - Mount Pleasant
• MR - Marpole
• OA - Oakridge
• PG - Point Grey
• QU - Quilchena
• SC - South Cambie
• SG - South Granville
• SH - Shaughnessy
• SL - Southlands
• SW - S.W. Marine
• UL - University
• WE - West End

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

There are Three "South Granvilles" in Vancouver

Did you know that there are three South Granville areas in Vancouver? It sounds confusing I know, let me break it down for you.

1. Number one is the South Granville most people know. This is the South Granville Shopping District which is an 11-block strip on Granville Street between the south end of the Granville Street Bridge at about 5th Ave, up the slope to 16th Avenue. This area is known for it's fashion boutiques, furniture stores, restaurants and art galleries. 

2. Number two is the residential area that surrounds the shopping district. I am going to say in a couple of blocks either side of Granville street from 5th Ave to 16th Ave. You may, however get a different answer if you ask someone else. (This residential area lies within the boundary of Fairview as designated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.)

3. Number three is the South Granville north of the trendy shopping district, where the northern boundary begins at 41st Ave. This South Granville is the sub area within Vancouver West as designated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

Choose the South Granville that appeals to you!

Jeffrey Sefton
HomesInVancouverBC.ca

Kitsilano Farmers Market

Kitsilano Farmers Market is a must do.  Add a market visit to your Sunday schedule between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. until October 24th. 

Plenty of fresh food with vendors changing from week to week, with some main stays that are there almost every week.

Take a walk to the market and experience the fruits and vegetables as they are in season.  Have you ever missed local strawberries or cherries only to regret it?

There are jams, jellies, honey, bread, baked goods, salmon, eggs, bison, beef, cheese and more.

Run the gamut of vegetables and fruit including, nugget potatoes, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, berries, strawberries, cherries and much more, go see for yourself!

Visit the Eat Local website for market days and times in the West End or East Vancouver. More Local Farmer's Market Information.

Enjoy the market, and don't forget to bring your own shopping bags!

Jeffrey Sefton

Gastown in Vancouver

 

Gastown in Vancouver is where old meets new. It is here that you will find large brick buildings, heritage loft conversions and some new condo buildings. There are buildings with lofts and retail stores on the street level, that fit the neighbourhood well.

I have watched from year to year as Gastown became more of a livable neighbourhood and now it is a very livable neighbourhood indeed.

  Although Gastown is known as a tourist destination, and many come to see the old steam clock or walk the streets for shopping, it is a very lively neighbourhood, that many are happy to call home.  

Grocery shopping is easy walking to the Woodwards building which now houses Nesters. They also took a page from the old Woodwards food floor and named and modelled a current Woodwards food floor by Nesters. 

Sunrise Market is quite close for your produce needs and T&T Supermarket is also within walking distance.

 

 

There is no shortage of pubs in the area and the Sea-bus station, Sky Train and the Canada Line are  close.

If you work in the downtown area, walking or biking to work, or hopping on transit is an option.

The seawall at Coal Harbour is only a short walk away.

Highlights include:

• Awesome views of the North Shore Mountains
• The Seawall at Coal Harbour nearby
• Close to downtown, walk, bike, transit
• Hook up easily to the bike route
  Bike Route Map
• Canada Line at the Sea-bus station offers great access
• Sea-bus to North Vancouver in 15 minutes

Olympic Village On False Creek

Olympic Village is a 7 block community, situated at the edge of False Creek with a terrific view of downtown Vancouver and Science World. The seawall runs right by for walking, rollerblading and cycling.

If you walk towards the east you will get to Science World and be able to continue walking right past False Creek North. Keep going and you pass Sunset Beach in Vancouver's West End. Further still and you will be at English Bay.

If you only want a short jaunt then head West on the Seawall to the Granville Island Market and perhaps stop part way for a rest and a pint.  

At the centre of Olympic Village you will find there are some stores getting ready to open.

Since the village is still quite new it is still not yet fully developed and is just beginning to become a neighbourhood with stores and amenities. Olympic Village is close to the Cambie Street Corridor where there is grocery shopping, a liquor store, and stores for hardware, lighting, electronics as well as restaurants.

The Millenium Water Development in Olympic Village is a LEED® project that has been certified by the Canada Green Building Council. LEED® Certification distinguishes building projects that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by meeting higher performance standards in environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.

About 50 per cent of roof space is covered in plants and grass, which helps regulate temperature as well. Also, 25 per cent of storm water from each roof can be collected underground and used for flushing toilets and watering courtyard gardens.

Olympic Village is a terrific location with great promise of maturing into an awesome neighbourhood.

Highlights include:

• Awesome views of False Creek and Downtown
• The Seawall and Granville Island nearby
• Science World less than a 5 minute walk
• Hook up easily to the bike route
  Bike Route Map
• Canada Line Olympic Station offers easy access to downtown and the airport

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

The Salt Building At Olympic Village

You can find the Salt Building at the centre of Olympic Village in the area of False Creek.

The Salt building was built around 1930 to refine raw salt and it later served as a paper recycling plant in the 1980's.

The city completed a full restoration of the Salt Building including an upgrade of the foundation and restoration of the exposed timber piles and interior.

For the 2010 Winter Games the building was raised and it's shell upgraded for VANOC's use as a gathering spot during the games.

Olympic Village is a short walk from the  Canada Line transit station. 

Enjoy a walk around Olympic Village then onto the seawall east to Science World or west to Granville Island

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

The Cambie Corridor, Is The Border Between Fairview Slopes and Mount Pleasant

The Cambie Corridor has become a much more high energy area since the addition of Home Depot, Save On Foods, Whole Foods, Best Buy, Canadian Tire and all the small stores that have popped up in the area as well. If you like busy, shopping and accessibility, then The Cambie Corridor is for you.

London Drugs moved from their location further down Broadway to quite close to the corner of Cambie and Broadway as well.

Vancouver General Hospital is a short walk and is experiencing a renovation and expansion in in the area surrounding the core of the hospital.

Additional housing has sprung up in the form of condominiums above the new retail space in the area, with further growth expected.

The Canada Line, Broadway - City Hall station is located at the corner of Broadway and Cambie while The Olympic Village Station is further north on Cambie Street at West 2nd Avenue, adjacent to the Cambie Street Bridge. The Olympic Village Station serves the existing South False Creek area.

The Canada Line provides a rapid transit link to the downtown core as well as the Vancouver International Airport.

Highlights include:

• Close to groceries, shopping and restaurants
• Easy access to downtown and out to the airport on the Canada Line
• Access to the 7th Ave and 10th Ave Bike Paths
• Awesome views of downtown and the North Shore Mountains

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

Fairview Slopes, Vancouver West

Fairview Slopes is what the locals call an area within Fairview. This area lies on the slopes, giving it the name of Fairview Slopes. 

Fairview Slopes itself is an area bordered on the West by Hemlock and  Cambie on the East, Broadway on the South and 6th Ave on the North.

The "Fairview" border on the South as designated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver actually goes as far as 16th Ave and it's West boarder as far as Burrard.

Fairview Slopes boasts awesome views of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains in the background. If you see fresh snow on the mountains you know it's going to be a great day for skiing.

You will find grocery shopping and restaurants within easy walking distance. Within the last couple of years there has been quite a lot of development in the lower Cambie Street area, the corridor on Cambie Street between Broadway and the Cambie Bridge.

Here you will find the addition of a couple of really good grocery stores, and a good combination of retail with condominiums above when you get to the Cambie Corridor. The majority of the housing in the Fairview Slopes area consists of condominiums and townhouses. You will find some single detached older homes with character as well, however there are not many of those left these days.

Below the area of Fairview Slopes to the North is False Creek where Olympic Village is located and moving East from Fairview Slopes is Mount Pleasant.


Highlights include:

    * Close to groceries, shopping and restaurants
    * Easy access to downtown by driving and transit
    * On the 7th Ave and 10 Ave Bike Paths Bike Route Map
    * Awesome views of downtown and the North Shore Mountains

 

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

Kerrisdale, A Small Town in the City

Kerrisdale is more like a small town, with residents and businesses that have been stable main stays of the neighbourhood for years. Kerrisdale is where many businesses have survived over the years thanks to the support of the people.  If you live in Kerrisdale, there is  a good chance that an employee or business owner working in Kerrisdale happens to be one of your neighbours.

Kerrisdale Lumber is a good example of a business that has been around for quite some time, operating in Kerrisdale since 1921. The main street offers a good variety of independent stores to pick up those everyday items such as groceries, baking, clothing, books or prescriptions, and has it's fair share of coffee shops.

Central Kerrisdale is located around 41st and West Boulevard and has a library and community centre.  

Housing consists of many unique single detached homes, small walk-up apartments, condominiums and coops as well as high rise buildings that have sprouted up over the years.

Recently, the Olympic torch made it's way through Kerrisdale for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Highlights:

• Good Variety of Local shopping
• Easy access to downtown
• A quiet central location
• Close to Bike route
• Quick drive to large grocery stores

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

Yaletown History

Yaletown is historic area of Vancouver, where the historic Roundhouse can be found at the foot of Davie Street at Pacific. The Roundhouse was originally contructed in 1888 and is now a community arts and recreation centre.

Yaletown is not only a vibrant area of Vancouver with retail, restaurants, and residential. Yaletown is home to several old warehouses that have been converted to residential.

With the Canada Line, "Yaletown-Roundhouse" station at Mainland and Davie, Yaletown is very accessible by public transit. The beautiful David Lam Park lies close to the False creek inlet, with a field for a good soccer game and tennis courts can be found nearby.

Yaletown is situated within the False Creek North sub area of Vancouver West. Bordered by Downtown to the West and Mount Pleasant to the East Yaletown was once nothing but warehouses and the terminus of the CPR Railroad.

 

Above is CPR Train 374 that is now on display in the Yaletown Roundhouse for all to see.

Yaletown is a terrific location to live for those that work in the downtown core as walking or public transit is quite convenient.  Unwinding after work with a walk or bike ride on the seawall is truly an added benefit of living in Yaletown.  

Highlight Include:

• The Roundhouse
• David Lam Park
• The seawall
• Great restaurants
• Good energy
• Convenient grocery stores
• Quick access to downtown.

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

University, A Sub Area Of Vancouver West

The University area is also known as the University Endowment Lands which has plenty of green space, walking and bike trails. To the West is The Strait of Georgia, Wreck Beach for nude sunbathers and Spanish Banks for those that prefer to wear a bathing suit. Both beaches have a breathtaking view of the North Shore mountains, with Spanish Banks offering a panorama of the Vancouver's West End.

When the tide is out you can walk out quite far at Spanish Banks and when the tide is in, jump in for a refreshing swim.

If you are a golfer, check out the University Golf Club and for those botanists in the crowd be sure to visit University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens.

If you are in the University area, whether you live there or are just visiting you must not miss the  Museum of Anthropology, rich in culture, with over 6,000 objects from BC's First Nations in the Museum's collection. 

There is also the Koerner Ceramics Gallery where there are more than 600 European ceramics collected over a period of almost eighty years by Dr. Walter C. Koerner (1898-1995), and donated to the Museum in 1990.

University is a sub area of Vancouver West

Highlights include:

• UBC Campus
• Wreck Beach
• Great cycling and jogging paths
• Golf
• The Museum of Anthropology
• Awesome views
• Close to Spanish Banks.

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

False Creek North, on the Edge of Yaletown.

On the Edge of Yaletown, False Creek North has it's own Seawall that is a continuation of the English Bay Seawall.  A great view of the creek, boats, and the condos and green space that surround False Creek North.

During development of this area, Concord Pacific together with the City of Vancouver did a great job of planning, adding parks for green-space and continuing the Seawall walk. 

The area has an Urban Fare grocery store and plenty of restaurants and additional shopping.

Put on your roller blades, hop on your bike or take the dog for a walk. Continue along the seaswall to the Science Centre or keep going to see Oylmpic Village and further still and you will find yourself at Granville Island.

False Creek North is a sub area of Vancouver West.

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

English Bay, Denman at Davie Street

English Bay has a great beach and is located close to Stanley Park, terrific for a Seawall walk for some fresh  sea air, located at Denman and Davie Street just a short walk for shopping and lunch.  If you are lucky when it's good weather you may just see the dancing guy or a street entertainer at the grassy area in front of the beach, at the foot of Davie Street

 

Relax over brunch at Rain City Grill, sit outside and enjoy the breeze and a beautiful view of the Bay, shop on Denman or just walk while you lick some gelato in a cone.

During the Summer the Symphony of Fire takes place at the end of July and into August and don't miss the Gay Pride Parade that takes place each year at the beginning of August.

English Bay is located in the sub area of Vancouver West, called The West End.

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

Broadway at Granville is in the Heart of Fairview

Broadway and Granville is in the Heart of Fairview, a great place to live if you want to be within walking distance of anything you need or want. It is here you will find stores such as Chapters for a good read and not to forget Oscars for books on Art or a great selection of calendars. You have a choice of Blends for a coffee at the corner, or three Starbucks coffee houses within about 4 blocks.  There is plenty of shopping from clothing stores to home decor and Cookworks for the upscale kitchen gadgets. There is a handy Dollar Store, and a few jeans stores. There are some really good restaurants including Barney's, Ouisi Bistro, Bin 942, Joeys, Earls, or The Red Door when it's time for a bite to eat and to rest your feet. 

Broadway at Granville is located in sub area of Vancouver West named Fairview. 

Search for Homes in Fairview

Highlights include:

• Conveniently located grocery stores offering organic and conventional
• The 10th Ave Bikeway
• Hop the bus downtown and be there quickly
• Clothing Shopping
• The Firehall Library
• Fitness Centres
• The Beach is close
• Art Galleries
• Take Canada Line to the Airport.

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca

Granville Island Vancouver

Vancouver's Granville Island is a mecca in the heart of the city.  Living near Granville Island offers a terrific permanent farmers market with fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood, baked goods, fresh bread, home preserves, chocolates and candy, and a revolving list of vendors that display their crafts including knitted goods, soap, photography, and ceramics to name a few. 

It's always fun to take one of the small ferry boats over to the other side and take a stroll on the seawall around to English Bay. 

Granville Island is located in sub area of Vancouver West named False Creek. 

Search for Homes in False Creek and False Creek North

Jeffrey Sefton
www.homesinvancouverbc.ca