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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215 289 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "The Edge" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2574783
215 289 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6A 4H7 
$899,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2574783
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 767 sq. ft.
Everything you have been dreaming of is right here! This live/work zoned loft at the Edge offers expansive views of the city, mountains & inlet. The interactive view is always changing with the time of day & the sun sets are breathtaking. Boasting over 400 sq ft of private terrace, over 18' ceilings, 7000 sq ft of amenities inc. recording studio,wood & metal shop, kiln, gym, multipurpose room. Parking, gas F/P, electronic blinds insuite laundry, & A/C approved. A walk score of 91 & bike score of 85 you can be anywhere you want in no time! Steps to any number of the city's amazing restaurants, gastown, downtown, the Drive and East Van. Pet friendly and rentals allowed! More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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205 626 ALEXANDER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "626 ALEXANDER" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2575719
205 626 ALEXANDER Street Vancouver V6C 1C9
$499,800Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2575719
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 557 sq. ft.
626 Alexander in Historic Rail town. A one bedroom+ DEN/FLEX Condo built by Epix Development with Mountain Views. Fantastic open layout, 8'11' ceilings and beautiful engineered hardwood floors throughout. The gourmet kitchen comes fully equipped with integrated European appliances, quartz countertops, gas range, and ample storage space. The spa inspired bathroom features a stunning walk in shower, floating vanity and tiled shower floor. Good size Den/flex room for your office or more storage space. Enjoy the common courtyard equipped with a BBQ that is perfect for the summer months. Exciting neighbourhood with boutique restaurants, micro breweries, shops, short walk to Gas Town, and centre of Downtown. one storage locker included. Permit Parking out Front. Open Sat/Sun 2 to 4pm By App. More detailsListed by Stonehaus Realty Corp. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
