Main Street in Vancouver, British Columbia is a major north-south thoroughfare that bisects the city nearly equally between the westside neighbourhoods that extend to the University Endowment Lands on the ocean and the eastside limits of Boundary Road, which marks where the the City of Burnaby begins. From north to south Main Street crosses the Vancouver neighbourhoods of Downtown Eastside, Chinatown, Strathcona, Mount Pleasant, Riley Park, and Sunset. Major east-west intersections with Main Street from north to south are Cordova Street, Hastings Street, Georgia Viaduct, Terminal Avenue, Broadway, 12th Avenue, King Edward Avenue, 33rd Avenue, 41st Avenue, 49th Avenue, and Southeast Marine Drive.
From Waterfront Road where it begins by the Burrard Inlet, Main Street runs southward all the way to Kent Avenue, where it ends by the Fraser River, Vancouver’s southern limit. En route, the street runs through Chinatown below Hastings Street, continues past the Pacific Central railway and the Main Street/Science World SkyTrain stations, and at Terminal Avenue ascends into the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, a residential/commercial mixture that continues south of Broadway with numerous restaurants and some fashion retail. Property values in Mount Pleasant, once working-class, are definitely on the rise.
Between 33rd and 41st avenues Main becomes more residential in its ascent to high ground. In the Sunset neighbourhood south of 41st Avenue, the street acquires an Indo-Canadian character. The Punjabi Market district begins just north of 49th Avenue, south of which the street again becomes almost entirely residential. At Main Street’s intersection with Marine Drive in South Vancouver, it becomes big-box commercial with a Real Canadian superstore and a miscellaneous mix of low-rise office space, manufacturing, and warehousing.
History
On the north end, Main Street is just west of the historic site of Hastings Mill, the area around which Granville, the earlier settlement that later became Vancouver, grew. Main and Hastings mark the former centre of downtown Vancouver with the old central public library (now Carnegie Centre) and the old City Hall. The intersection is now a local catchword for the drug abuse, homelessness, poverty, and prostitution once endemic in Downtown Eastside.
Originally Main Street was Westminster Avenue as it connected at East 7th Avenue to New Westminster Road, now Kingsway. Local merchants arranged to change the name in 1910 to what they thought would bestow a more cosmopolitan character to their neighbourhood. At one time, Main Street had a bascule bridge over False Creek, which then flowed to Clark Drive over a mile farther east. During the First World War, the Great Northern and the Canadian Northern Pacific railroads filled in and reclaimed that land for use, removed the bridge, and reconnected the previously bridged Main Street segments.
A recent Seattle Times article describes Vancouver’s mid-city Main Street as “certifiably hip” though a place “where women of a certain profession once worked the street corners in stilettos” but where now “explosive growth in the city” and relatively “cheap rent in this Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Southeast Vancouver” have brought in many “new boutiques, novelty shops and fancy restaurants.” According to the article, “Main Street was crime-infested 20 years ago, but that just meant cheap rent to starving artists and Asian immigrants who were looking for studio and restaurant space. They led the revitalization.”
The article concludes that “For all the concerns of gentrification, Main Street appears unremarkable with its worn storefront signs with missing letters and storefronts in need of a new coat of paint. They just all seem to blend into this street’s gritty roots and who-cares-what-outsiders-think attitude.”
Developers' Alert! Opportunity on MAIN STREET!!This DOUBLE CORNER LOT 66.6 X 110 with 2 PID no. Note: North Corner 202 E.37th Ave and 5320 Main St. and 5322 Main Street also for sale (Land Assembly) City Considerations for rezoning in this RT-2 Zone, 4, 5 or 6 storeys. On Arterial Mixed Use. Location directly across from the Little Mountain Holborn Properties Development Site. Minutes from the Iconic Queen Elizabeth Park, Riley Park Area & Hillcrest Community Centre. Live in with mortgage helper. Convenient Area & Best location on Main St. surrounded by restaurants, shops, schools, transit and parks.More details
Attention Builders and Investors! Very Solid and livable House:Great location in the Heart of East Vancouver. One minute Life Circle, Long Term Holding. BUILDING LOT ZONED FOR A RENTAL/ RESIDENTIAL BUILDING.Nearby Schools General Brock Elementary School, Sir William Van Horne Elementary School,John Oliver Secondary School, Eric Hamber Secondary School and more.Close to Queen Elizabeth Park,Langara,Cambie Skytrain station,Oakridge Shpg Ctr and all of Main street.Almost West Side.Potential for Rezoning to Apartment.Great Investment Chance, Motivated seller, Try offers. ACT NOW IF YOU ARE SMART BUYERS!This won't last!More details
Developers'Alert!Note sold in conjunction with 5320 and 5322 Main Street.(Land Assembly)Opportunity on MAIN STREET!! City Considerations for rezoning in this RT-2 Zone, 4, 5 or 6 storey On Arterial Mixed Use. Location directly across from the Little Mountain Holborn Properties Development Site. Minutes from the Iconic Queen Elizabeth Park, Riley Park Area & Hillcrest Community Centre. This Solid Vancouver Special consists of 5 bedrooms, 2 kitchens , enclosed double car garage with enclosed solarium. Below has its own entrance to the 2 bedroom suite.Live in with mortgage helper.Best location on Main St. surrounded by shops, schools, restaurants, transit and parks. Excellent for family and investment.More details
E 33rd Ave and Main St location close to QE park. House and garage are built using highest quality materials (stainless steel, porcelain tiles, exterior fibreglass doors & windows, steel soundproofing interior doors) and technologies to achieve minimal maintenance & maximum aesthetic appeal with superior space utilization blending architecturally classical & modern design. 10 radiant ceiling heating zones, separate HRV & make up air ventilation systems. Light weight steel roofing tiles, triple fibreglass windows with krypton gas, SIP Structural Insulated Panel exterior walls, porcelain tiles on all floors and exterior walls with rain screen technology and more. Currently rented for over $8000/month! Owner will deliver house without tenants if requested so by purchaser upon binding offer.More details
INCREDIBLE LOCATION! Most sought after West of Main VANCOUVER SPECIAL near E41st & Quebec. LOT 33x122, Over 2581 SQ.FT. Featuring 3beds, 2baths on main level and TWO 2beds rental suites downstairs with separate entrances. Only half block away from all the WEST SIDE amenities, schools & parks. Within 15MIN walk to the NEW OAKRIDGE CENTER, CANADA LINE, LANGARA COLLEDGE, QE PARK & MORE. Functional floorplan, double car garage & large patio. Enjoy Vancouver West's School Catchment: Sir William Van Horne Elementary & Eric Hamber Secondary. New boiler, updated windows, bathrooms & kitchens. Great to hold with great monthly income! Mask is required to enter property. Call for showing!More details
Property situated on a 49.5’ x 100’ lot in the prime Mount Pleasant district/Main area with parks & shopping only steps away. Only 2 blocks to Main St. 3,303 sq.ft building over 3 levels. Upper level has a outdoor space with a huge balcony. 2 bedrooms on Main with a staircase to the unfinished storage space in the lower level. Shared laundry. Large rear yard with open parking. Excellent month to month tenants. All viewings by appointment with at least 24 hours notice.More details
The house is half a block away from Main St, Mount Pleasant District, there are lots of choices of restaurants to choose from and shopping is within walking distances. The house contains 3 separate rental units, one 1-bedroom at basement, one 2-bedrooms at main floor and one 2-bedrooms at the top floor with an attic floor space. Good revenue for investor. Please call the listing agent Bill Wan for showing time. Please allow 24 hours notice.More details
Bright & spacious 5 bed 2 bath 3 level family home located west of Main. Main features open floor plan with 1 large master bedroom, and a generous size sun deck off the kitchen. 2 bedrooms upstairs + upgraded kitchen, living room, dinning room & recreation space renovated around 2012. Down features 2 bedrooms walk-out basement suite, great for mortgage helper! 2 years hot water tank and furnace, 8 years old roof, plus a massive private back yard, perfect for garden & for the kids to play in. Walking dist. to all Main St. shops & amenities & just blocks to all schools. Great opportunity for investment and living! A must see!More details