Growing Pains in Railtown
The Nascent Neighbourhood
The Vancouver Observer, an online independent newspaper, in an October 2013 article describes Railtown as “A taste of Brooklyn in Vancouver” and as “Vancouver’s final frontier.” The article defines this small area as within Alexander Street on the south and the railyards on the Burrard Inlet waterfront on the north between Columbia Street and Heatley Avenue. A May 2014 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) online article defines the area as somewhat larger extending from the waterfront as far south as Hastings Street between Main Street and Hawkes Avenue, a slight shift eastward, but both articles include a core area from Alexander Street north between Main Street and Heatley Avenue, and both express concern over gentrification.
The Gentrification Controversy
In a sidebar, “A brief history of gentrification in Vancouver,” The Observer defines gentrification as “people being pushed out of their neighbourhood by people with more money,” noting that the gentrification boom follows a long period of deterioration in which property values fell to very low levels. During this period, nobody paid property taxes, the city seized land for delinquent taxes, then sold it for bottom-level prices to buyers eager to profit from the 1966 Strata Titles Act, which for the first time made mere apartments real estate. Before that law there were no condos, just single-owner or cooperative properties. Condominium construction and conversion accelerated gentrification of neighbourhoods and displacement of their residents unable to buy into the change.
The Observer concludes that the city should explore “more creative modes” of property ownership by cooperative, shared ownership of whole buildings, cohousing, and laneway housing, small structures typically built in the rear of pre-existing. The CBC laments the facts that rapid growth in Railtown may be good news for business but that 13,000 Downtown East Side low-income residents living on pensions or welfare benefits face the threat of eviction.
New Attractions
Once a rough industrial district of dives and brothels, Railtown today is home to the avant-garde Railtown Design District, six affiliated businesses aiming to make the neighborhood a centre of architectural advancement. In addition to the Design District, Railtown has seen several new businesses and cafes arrive as old warehouse and factory buildings convert to new uses. The Vancouver Urban Winery has an historic building in which it manufactures, packages, imports, and distributes wine for multiple brands and hold functions and parties around wine themes. So popular has this new venture proven to be with patrons that it started in 2012 with two employees and now has thirty.
Information Links:
http://strathconabia.com/
http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/dtes-local-area-plan.aspx
Downtown Eastside Development Plan
Railtown, Gastown, and the rest of the Downtown Eastside may see major changes from the city council approval in March 2014 after two days of public hearings of a plan to guide future development. The mayor says the plan reflects “aspirations for safer and more stable 
housing, protections for low-income residents, stronger support for mental health and addictions, and a more vibrant local economy.”
The plan is ambitious in its aims to accommodate developers who have driven up land values by purchasing, redeveloping, or speculating on neighbourhood properties and to protect low-income residents increasingly struggling to afford rent and food as neighbourhood costs increase. Plan critics say provisions for new or replacement “social housing”* units, upgrades to single-room occupancies, and rent-subsidized units may help some area residents but will leave others in squalor or on the streets. Whether the plan does enough for all 6,300 residents on social assistance and 6,000 others on low incomes is uncertain, but in a no-condos zone along Hastings Street new structures must be at least 60 percent social housing, and one third of those new units must rent at shelter rates. The plan protects heritage buildings and designates Railtown as a potential location for office use.
* The British/Canadian term “social housing” is synonymous with “public housing” in the USA.
New Railtown Live MLS Listings
Railtown, Vancouver, Trendy
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281 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2738104
281 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6A 1C2 
$2,780,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2738104
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 2,764 sq. ft.
This is an amazing space! Currently is one Canada’s premier movie studios that can be converted back to a ONE LEVEL HOME with a stunning home theater. This property can easily be converted back into an amazing 3 bedroom. All doors, ceilings, wall, and AIR CONDITIONING is totally soundproof. This space offers the “state of the art” technology. Great modern gourmet kitchen and nicely appointed bathroom. The HOME theater is one of the best in the country. This space is fully soundproof in every room, sound protection with zero sound transmission. The property is fully air conditioned with no sound transition. Offers smart home and camera technology, private secured gate entrance. Concrete solid building located just East of Gastown. Currently tenanted. Call today for your appointment to view. More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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212 289 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "The Edge" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2738673
212 289 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6A 1C2
$1,258,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2738673
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,160 sq. ft.
Brutalism and Edge. The Edge Lofts is a brutalist inspired Artist Live/Work building with exposed concrete and metal, angular geometric shapes, monochrome colour palette, and a visual use of steel, timber, and glass. This over sized, 1160sf 2 bed 2 full bath corner footprint offers a livability not normally associated with open lofts. Air and light floods the space year round with 60 feet of double height glazing showcasing unobstructed mountain, ocean, and city views. Modern interior updates designed by both Falken Reynolds and Anthill Studios. 7000sf studio amenity space includes photography/dark room, wood/metal shops, ceramics studio, music rooms, gym, and rec room. 1 secure parking. Pets and rentals allowed. Showings by private appointment. More detailsListed by Stilhavn Real Estate Services - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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309 626 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "626 Alexander" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2733773
309 626 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6A 1C9
$929,900Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2733773
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 1,036 sq. ft.
True modernist townhouse in Strathcona/ Railtown! Located among the city’s most fashionable restaurants, bars, cafes, galleries. Designed by Gair Williamson Architects w/ interiors by Occupy Design. Only 25 units in the complex, clean contemporary lines. Generous floor plan at an unbeatable price, fantastic private 438 sqft roof top patio with views of the city, the mountains, & the working harbour. Inline, courtyard access orientation with nobody on top. Exposure on both sides, north and south. AirBnB rentals permitted (2 night min.). Roof top deck w/ gas, water. 1 secure parking space & 1 storage locker included. EV charging/ bike storage is available in the parkade. Walk everywhere from this location. More info on our web site, look us up! More detailsListed by Oakwyn Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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808 289 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "The Edge" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2713168
808 289 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6A 4H6
$798,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2713168
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 790 sq. ft.
Edge Lofts, Artist Live/ Work w/ exposed concrete & brick in Railtown design district. Your chance to own this bright, open unit featuring open floor plan, floor to ceiling windows, large living room, cozy gas fireplace, in-suite laundry, 16' ceilings, concrete floors & generous sized balcony. Built in 1999, The Edge is a ten storey concrete building w/ brick exterior finishing & full rain screen. Max. 2 pets & rentals are OK (min 30 days). Massive 7,000 sf amenity space w/ gym, metal shop, woodworking shop, pottery studio & music room in an ideal community of fellow live/work artists. New roof in 2021 & it includes 1 UG secured parking. A short walk to Gastown & Railtown’s best restaurants, downtown shopping & False Creek seawall recreation & transit. Show by appointment w/ your Realtor. More detailsListed by RE/MAX - Stuart Bonner - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
