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.”
Attention Builders and Investors! WUW, Rezoning was changed Now! It can rebuild 12 Floor Apartment Now. 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 , Cambiea Skytrain station, Oakridge Shop Mall and all of Main street. Great Investment Chance, Motivated seller, Try offers. ACT NOW IF YOU ARE SMART BUYERS! This won't last!More details
EXCELLENT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY! LAND VALUE! Perfect Corner Double Lot 66.6ft by 110ft Located on the corner of E 38th Ave and Main St. Rarely available in this area. Act Fast! Convenient Area & Best location on Main St. surrounded by restaurants, shops, schools, transit and parks including Iconic Queen Elizabeth Park.More details
WOW. CRAZY LARGE LOT. Attn Developers- 41.9 x 229.25 ft lot. NEARLY 10,000 sq ft buildable. 1 Block to Main and a couple more to Queen Elizabeth and Riley Parks. Dream location. Capitalize on the newly PASSED CoV MULTIPLEX policy with this gem and a 1 FSR and lane access! This lot is already orphaned on the block with a Town house complex directly to the west and two similar sized lots to the east -EACH with 6 units in progress- Basically three duplex lots in one shot in a fantastically desirable location with MASSIVE END PRODUCT APPEAL AND HUGE SALE PRICES PER FOOT.More details
Location, Location, Location! This beautiful custom-built house stands in the Center of Vancouver. Featuring Radiant heat and central A/C, this Fully functional layout with an open concept main floor with living, dining and family room. Upstairs contains 3 large bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. 2 legal suites bring in two mortgage helpers with a potential to make a third; the 4 bedroom basement suite with 3 bathrooms and a very spacious laneway house with 2 bathrooms. Quiet inside street. Close to restarants, cafes and Langara College! Do Not Miss This Opportunity!! Open House: Sun, Mar 31st, 2-4pm.More details
Exception large family home located in the heart of the Main street corridor. Total of 7 bedrooms on the main level and all in great condition. Great holding property with possibility for redevelop when purchase with adjoining property 240 East 20th Av.More details
Legal side by side duplex, located along the most sought after Main corridor area. Just a stone throw from Main street. Need some TLC but has some updates, Newer roof, double glazed windows, 2017 hot water tank and furnace. Great holding property, possible redevelopment to multi family. To be sold with adjoining property 238 East 20th Av.More details
''UNICORN" This beauty is a rare find, 4 level character home that was completely gutted to the studs in 1982. With 3934 SF & 42x116 Sf lot this property has a lot to offer. Keep it as a revenue generating home or convert to a family house with a couple suites. Features include 7 separate electrical meters, updated kitchen & flooring in 2008, drain tiles & electrical & copper piping in 1982, new roof & gutters in 2011, 5 outdoor parking, extra large deck off of the 3rd floor suite, excellent tenants & proactive owners. Close to Funky Main street, Mount Pleasant park, schools, shopping. Quiet tree-lined street. 5-1 bedroom, 1-2 bedroom suites. Annual income $109,656, insurance $5,161.More details
Opportunity on MAIN STREET! Renovate, build fourplex, duplex prime location. Location directly across from the Little Mountain Holborn Properties Development site. Minutes from the iconic Queen Elizabeth Park, Riley Park area & Hillcrest Community Centre. Excellent for family and investment corner Vancouver Special house floor plan, w/3 bedrooms & dining room overlooking living room up on the main! The ground floor features 2 bedroom, kitchen open living & dining area. Washer and dryer , 2 enclosed parking garage. Convenient area & located on corner bike pass 37th Ave. & Main St. surrounded by restaurants, shops, schools, transit and parks.More details
One of a kind property, perfect for "Multi Generational" families or savvy investors. It took more than six years to build with high quality materials and advanced technologies. As a result, house allows minimal maintenance & provides maximum soundproofing between rooms. Creative layout maximizes the usage of floor area accommodating multiple self-contained units with great privacy and huge potential cashflow. Zoning allows for a lane way house. Convenient location - close to shopping, entertainment, and transit. Only one bus ride to UBC & downtown Vancouver. Inquire today! Great cash flow, convenient location, what are you waiting for!More details
This home has impeccable attention to detail featuring an open concept main floor with a sleek & spacious modern kitchen offering top of the line Bosche appliances, gorgeous millwork throughout, in-ceiling speakers, radiant in-floor heating, A/C, and a private home office room. The efficient top floor features 3 spacious bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with an en-suite bathroom featuring beautiful millwork closet and freestanding tub! Downstairs features a cozy 1 bedroom legal suite!More details