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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212 289 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "The Edge" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2585730
212 289 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6A 1C2 
$1,358,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2585730
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,145 sq. ft.
THE ONE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. TWO level Loft living at the sought after Live/work zoned EDGE building with unobstructed OCEAN & MOUNTAIN VIEWS. This gorgeous TWO bedroom TWO Bathroom CORNER unit will impress upon entry with 18' Ceilings (Highest in the building) CUSTOM Bocci Statement lighting & has been tastefully updated throughout, with no detail spared. Exceptional NATURAL light, Stainless steel kitchen appliances, OPEN Concept Living/Dining, FRESHLY Painted, Updated Bathrooms, Smart controlled heating system, the list goes on! Floor to ceiling windows, GAS fireplace, Pro-active Strata, PARKING and TONS of insuite storage. Rentals and pets allowed, EXCELLENT amenities include - woodworking, ceramics & gym and just STEPS to fantastic restaurants in Gastown. More detailsListed by Macdonald Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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614 289 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "The Edge" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2599829
614 289 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6A 4H6
$1,049,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2599829
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,072 sq. ft.
A unique & stylish loft at The Edge! Enjoy a fantastic 1072 sq.ft open concept living with soaring 16 ft ceilings. Functional 1 bed & 2 bath with a designated office space and tons of storage considerations. You will truly appreciate the floor to ceiling windows giving an abundance of natural light and showcasing the mountain & Port of Vancouver views! Enjoy a true loft experience with the industrial modern design, updated kitchen and bathrooms, and sleek interior concrete finishing. The Edge building in Railtown is a thriving scene for creative professionals & home to some of Vancouver's best boutique restaurants. Well-maintained building includes a fitness centre, wood shop & metal shop, rooftop garden and more.1 parking & in suite laundry, with storage units available to rent. Open House - Saturday, July 10 2:30-4pm More detailsListed by Engel & Volkers Vancouver - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
