Kitsilano Life
A Vancouver Beach Neighbourhood
The Kitsilano westside neighbourhood of the Canadian City of Vancouver in British Columbia is on the shore of English Bay on the north between the flanking neighbourhoods of Point Grey at Alma Street on the west and Fairview east at Burrard Street on the east. West 16th Avenue is the southern border with the neighbourhoods of Dunbar, Arbutus Ridge, and Shaughnessy. Notable neighbourhood landmarks are the Burrard Street Bridge, a five-lane, Art Deco style, steel-truss bridge constructed in 1932 to connect Kitsilano to Downtown Vancouver, the splendid Kitsilano Beach, and the Maritime Museum and MacMillan Space Centre, both in Vanier Park near the beach. Kitsilano hosts the annual Vancouver International Children’s Festival, Bard on the Beach outdoor Shakespeare festival, and Celebration of Light fireworks competition.
Mostly residential with commercial areas on West 4th Avenue and West Broadway, Kitsilano’s population was 40,595 according to the 2006 Census, a 2.5-percent increase from 2001. English is the dominant language of area residents followed by Chinese; however, French, German, Greek, Japanese, and Spanish are not uncommon. About 75.0 percent speak English as their native language, 4.5 percent Chinese, and 3.2 percent French. The 2006 neighbourhood median household income was $53,455, and 21.3 percent of residents live in low-income households.
Historical Development
Vancouver streetcar lines once had a loop at Arbutus & Cornwall, making the beach area easily accessible from the new city, then still mostly on the small Downtown peninsula on the north side of the Burrard Street Bridge over False Creek. The Lulu Island Railway opened an interurban line from Downtown Granville & Pacific streets to Richmond via Seventh Avenue and Arbutus Street through Kerrisdale in the 1890s, putting more of the neighbourhood within easy range of Downtown.
An inexpensive neighbourhood in the 1960s, Kitsilano attracted many countercultural residents from across Canada and the USA and became with Gastown one of two such city neighbourhoods gentrified in later decades. Easy access to Downtown Vancouver and walking distance to parks, beaches, and ever popular Granville Island in Fairview have made the neighbourhood very desirable. Following the days of the counterculture, many environmentalists came to Vancouver. Greenpeace opened its first office in Kitsilano in 1975 as did the Green Party of British Columbia in 1983.
Information Links:
http://shopwest4th.com/
http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/kitsilano.aspx
http://kitscc.com
Parks and Beaches
Kitsilano has seventeen parks, six playgrounds, an off-leash dog park, and one of Vancouver’s finest, most popular beaches with a franchise restaurant, the heated, salt-water outdoor Kitsilano Pool open from May to September, longest (137 metres/150 yards) swimming pool in Canada, and the Kitsilano Showboat, which has operated since 1935 as essentially an open-air amphitheatre with free performances from local bands and dance groups to entertain residents and tourists and showcase amateur talent.
No New Beach Bicycle Trail for Now
After months of vocal opposition and a lawsuit, the Vancouver park board in February 2014 gave up on plans for a new $2.2 million bicycle trail through Hadden Park and Kitsilano Beach and directed its staff to improve safety on the present trail through the parks. Opponents obtained in November 2013 a court order enjoining the board from breaking ground on the project until the case against it could be heard fully. An opposition spokesman said she was happy that “we won’t be putting blacktop through our precious green space.” The discontinued proposed project would have completed the city’s Seaside Greenway route from Coal Harbour to Jericho Beach Park on English Bay in the Point Grey neighbourhood several miles west of Kitsilano Beach.
New Kitsilano Live MLS Listings
Kitsilano Life: A Vancouver Beach Neighbourhood
-
1 2780 ALMA Street in Vancouver: Kitsilano Townhouse for sale in "TWENTY ON THE PARK" (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2872153
1 2780 ALMA Street Vancouver V6R 3S4 
$1,198,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2872153
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,050 sq. ft.
FABULOUS VIEWS FROM THIS BEAUTIFULLY BRIGHT "END" TOWNHOUSE AT TWENTY ON THE PARK! THE TOWNHOUSE - Flooded with light and fresh air from windows on 3 sides. Sweeping views across Kits and Point Grey towards the beaches, with the Northshore mountains as the backdrop. Top floor open plan living/dining/kitchen with laminate floors + electric fireplace. Newer appliances incl gas range. Generous balcony. 2 beds, 2 full baths both with windows! Brand new carpets in bedrooms and stairs. I/S laundry. THE BUILDING - friendly, well maintained, intimate collection of 20 homes. Entered via pretty inner courtyard. Parking, locker + bike room. 2 pets welcome. Adjacent to Almond Park, steps to shops/restaurants + direct transit to DT/UBC. Surrounded by the city's best schools, parks, trails and beaches! More detailsListed by Stilhavn Real Estate Services
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
412 2528 MAPLE Street in Vancouver: Kitsilano Condo for sale in "The Pulse" (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2873999
412 2528 MAPLE Street Vancouver V6J 0B4
$1,115,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2873999
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 873 sq. ft.
Welcome to your dream home in the heart of Kitsilano! This stunning 2 bed 2 bath+ den in The Pulse boasts an unbeatable location nestled in the vibrant Kitsilano neighbourhood. The open concept layout creates the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication. The south-facing orientation fills the home with natural light and provides a picturesque and quiet outlook onto a school. The space features a gourmet kitchen with S/S appliances and large island, a spacious patio and a large primary bedroom with walk-in closet and luxurious ensuite bathroom. Plenty of storage space including a large den and 1 storage locker. 2 PARKING STALLS! Just steps from grocery stores, transit options, upcoming Broadway skytrain, schools, recreation facilities and Arbutus Walk.Open House Sunday May 5th: 2-4PM More detailsListed by Engel & Volkers Vancouver - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
101 1959 W 2ND Avenue in Vancouver: Kitsilano Condo for sale in "Carmel Place" (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2876598
101 1959 W 2ND Avenue Vancouver V6J 1J2
$1,099,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2876598
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 909 sq. ft.
Rarely available unit in boutique ‘North of Fourth’ building. This bright fully renovated North facing ground-level 2 bedroom, 2 full bath corner unit has a private entry with 909 sq ft of functional living space and private outdoor patio for summer entertaining with friends & family. This home has been tastefully updated and boasts a large living and dining room with custom millwork and gas fireplace, open kitchen with quartz countertops and SS appliances, engineered vinyl flooring, new windows and sliding glass door with screens, a completely new bathroom and fresh paint throughout.Ample in suite storage with 1 parking&1 storage locker.Enjoy 360 degree views of water,mountain and city from the shared rooftop patio.Within minutes of Kits Beach, restaurants/cafes & schools.Open Sat-Sun 2-4 More detailsListed by Sutton Group - 1st West Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
602 2445 W 3RD Avenue in Vancouver: Kitsilano Condo for sale in "Carriage House" (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2848954
602 2445 W 3RD Avenue Vancouver V6K 4K6
$1,049,900Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2848954
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 815 sq. ft.
PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEWS!! RENOVATION OPPORTUNITY in Kitsilano's iconic Carriage House, one of the few concrete buildings just off 4th in the heart of Kits! This spacious 1 bedroom, 1 bath home offers over 800 sq ft of living space and a generous sized balcony with OCEAN AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS. This concrete building has many recent upgrades (plumbing and roof) and comes with exceptional amenities including an outdoor pool, community garden, billiard room, and tennis court. Enjoy daily walks to local coffee shops, shopping, dining, public transit and of course... Kitsilano Beach. No pets allowed. Immediate possession available. Transform this space into your dream home! More detailsListed by RE/MAX Colonial Pacific Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
206 3333 W 4TH Avenue in Vancouver: Kitsilano Condo for sale in "Blenheim Terrace" (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2872270
206 3333 W 4TH Avenue Vancouver V6R 1N6
$999,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2872270
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 897 sq. ft.
Experience the vibrant coastal lifestyle of Kitsilano at Blenheim Terrace. Nestled in one of Vancouver's most coveted neighbourhoods and within walking distance to the beach, shops, McBride Park and tennis courts across the street! On the quiet side, this 2 bed/2bath home features an incredibly spacious primary suite complete with en-suite bath, generous closet space and enough room for a home office. The secondary bedroom is a great size featuring big corner windows with views of blue sky above. Step outside and discover a gorgeous 300sf outdoor patio with space for lounging, dining, and outdoor entertaining with room for pets and kids too! The building is in great shape- piping, LED lighting,2 EV parking spots (paid for) ,roof all done recently. Open Sat May 4th - 3pm - 4pm More detailsListed by Oakwyn Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
