Established in 1907, the South Granville Business Improvement Area is south of Vancouver’s Downtown and north of the Kitsilano, Fairview, and Shaughnessy neighbourhoods. The area runs along Granville Street from the Granville Street Bridge over False Creek south to 16th Avenue, where the grand residences of Shaughnessy replace the shops, restaurants, and art galleries of South Granville.
When Vancouver as a city was three years old, South Granville already was an exclusive location and desirable destination before the first Granville Street Bridge went up across False Creek in 1889 to connect it to Downtown. Center Street became Granville Street in 1907. In the fall of that year, plans began for development of what would be First Shaughnessy, 423 acres between West 15th and King Edward avenues from Oak Street west to the BC Electric Railway interurban line to Lulu Island. New First Shaughnessy residents shopped on South Granville, establishing standards of high quality still extant today. Galleries and the Stanley Theatre followed, and the area acquired its cultural caché.
The Stanley Theater
The Stanley opened on the street between 11th and 12th avenues in December 1930 with a Lilian Gish movie, One Romantic Night. The Stanley was the only Vancouver theatre where juveniles could see not one but two Saturday matinees for ten cents. Granville Street and the Stanley went into decline during the ’80s, and it closed in 1991. After some talk of tearing it down, it rose again in 1997 as a fully refurbished venue for live performances. Whether for films or plays, the Stanley has been a major neighbourhood attraction, proof that the lively arts contribute much to neighbourhood prosperity and prestige.
The Granville Street Bridge
The present steel and concrete Granville Street Bridge, nearly a mile long and 90 feet high over Granville Island and False Creek, was the only eight-lane bridge on the continent outside New York City when it opened in 1954. The bridge supplanted an earlier structure that in 1909 had replaced the 1886 original.
Before construction began in 1951, politicians had tried to build a new bridge since 1945. A 1948 newspaper editorial complained that of “Vancouver’s obsolete bridges” “the Granville Bridge, because of its slippery surface, its pitted and rotted roadways, its wooden construction, its wooden approaches and the dangerous curve-in at its lift-spans mended with smooth-worn planks, is by far the worst.”
In Vancouver, few would dispute that the highest concentration of art, antiques, painting, sculpture, and unique curiosities are in South Granville’s Gallery Row, the nerve centre of Vancouver’s art community for 40 years. Fourteen galleries cluster along this stretch of Granville Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway.
To list a few, Bau-Xi, the oldest contemporary gallery in Vancouver, exhibits paintings, sculpture, prints, and drawings. Heffel, “Canada’s National Fine Art Auction House” in the historic Heffel Building at 7th Avenue, displays and previews inventory in an expansive 7,500-foot space. Uno Langmann Limited specializes in European and North American paintings from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. The gallery showcases a careful selection of antique furniture, silver, and objets d’art in elegant, neo-classical surroundings. Douglas Reynolds Gallery, founded in 1995 between 7th and 8th avenues, specializes in historic and contemporary Northwest Coast aboriginal art. The gallery exhibits museum-quality artifacts of aluminum, bronze, glass, and resin in bentwood boxes, masks, and totem poles.
A true masterpiece! Custom home built by experienced Villa Development Ltd. Situated on 11,400 SF lot with gated front yard and beautifully landscaped garden with built-in BBQ equipment. Prestigious Granville Area with multi-million homes surrounding, great street appearance. Close to tourists attractions, schools, public transit. This luxurious custom home features 4700 sf of living spaces with 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms. Best quality materials and dedicated workmanship! It offers everything you need for a luxurious and comfortable living: elegant crystal lighting, large kitchen with high-end appliances includes a good sized Wok-Kitchen, beautiful garden with big patio, 3-car garage, equipped with Air-conditioning, HRV, home security system. A pleasure to show!More details
BRAND NEW, Magnificent 'Crestron' Smart Home built by High Reputation Luxury house builder. Situated with 4389 sf house on 10441 sf lot in the desirable Granville neighborhood. Functional living/family room/foyer with 16ft high ceiling. Media room with wet bar, wine Cellar, gourmet kitchen with huge granite counter top and top High-end Appliances. Spacious living spaces with 5 ensuite bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, office, ELEVATOR, air conditioning, HRV, fully automation audio system, 3-car Garage with EV charging, outdoor area with professional design landscaping. 2-5-10 Warranty. School catchment: Blundell Elementary and Steveston London. Cannot refuse to enjoying a viewing tour for this BRAND-NEW HOME. Make an appointment now or come to our open house on Sat and Sunday 2-4pm.More details
Brand new, Magnificent and luxury home locates on HUGE 60 x 154 (9242SF) LOT with north & south exposure in desirable Granville sub-area. First class quality and workmanship. Formal living/family room/foyer with 16ft ceiling, Schonbek crystal chandeliers and nature statuari white stone tiles all through the house. Italian wall plaster and custom Europe curtains. Top notch open kitchen with Miele appliances and spacious wok kitchen. 5 bedrooms with ensuite. 4 up 1 down. Spectacular media room with wet bar, office, air conditioning, smart home and audio system etc. Upstairs features unique hydration station and 150sf leisure area with skylight. Beautiful outdoor area with professional design landscaping and beautiful fence gate.More details
Definitely One of A Kind! Best Street in Granville! Best of the Best - Custom built most elegant home in Prime Granville area. A masterpiece situated on 9231 SF Lot. This luxury almost 4100sqft home has 5 bdrms, 6 baths offers functional layout with super high ceiling. Gourmet kitchen with high end appliances includes a big sized Wok- Kitchen and granite countertop, beautiful landscape and depth backyard, equipped with A/C, HRV and Central Vacuum. Absolutely unbelievable quality throughout. Don't miss the bright and comfortable sweet home.More details
In Search of Excellence? This elegant 4,532 ft home is a dream come true. Nestled on an 11,235 sq ft gated private lot, superbly built with top-of-the-line materials and craftsmanship, it got everything you asked for: two master bedrooms, three more ensuite bedrooms, theatre, office, gourmet kitchen, wet bar, wine cellar, wok kitchen, 21' high ceiling foyer, aristocratic style paint. The grand entrance has a front porch and a water fountain. Your guests will be impressed by the spacious front yard and driveway which is big enough for over 10 vehicles parking. Exceptionally gracious backyard! The stately trees, and the flowing water work offer a great place for your own enjoyment or for big garden party. House is immaculately kept like new. Truly one-of-a-kind property!More details
Well-maintained over 4,000 SF beautiful home on a large 10,345 lot (66 x 156) area in a million-dollar home "Granville" area! Excellent layout of 5 bedrooms, recreation rooms, 3.5 baths, and 2 car garage. Top of the line features includes Sub Zero, Wolf & Miele appliances, paving stone driveway, granite countertops, pool deck & equipment, storage sheds plus much more...North facing front Garden, south facing sunny backyard, outdoor pool, golf putting green with BBQ patio.More details
A CUSTOM BUILT, ARCHITECT DESIGNED. ONE OF A KIND. LUXURY HOME ( FLOOR AREA 4686 SF INCLUDES GARAGE 557 SF) SUPER WIDE & HUGE LOT 80'X120', EUROPEAN STYLE FLOOR PLAN. HIGH DRAMATIC DESIGNED CEILING. WET BARS IN DINNING & MEDIA ROOM. HUGE GOURMET & WOK KITCHEN W/TOP OF THE LINE S/S APPLIANCES. GRANITE/MARBLE COUNTERS. AIR CON, HRV & SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM. 5 ENSUITE BDRM (2 MASTER BDRM) 5.5 BATH, STEAM BATH /SAUNA RM, HUGE 15'X6' WALK IN CLOSET. HUGE SOUTH & NORTH YARDS W/ LAWN SPRINKLER. FULLY FENCED WITH REMOTE GATE. GREAT NEIGHBOORHOOD. CONVENIENT LOCATION. SCHOOLS CLOSE BY. A GREAT FAMILY HOME TO ENJOY!More details
Luxury custom-built home with superb workmanship in quiet and beautiful street. Exceptional 74 feet wide frontage, 3855 sq.ft. best quality and design house. Functional and open floor plan with 10' high ceiling through out, designer's choice of lightings, kitchen and Wok kitchen, 18' high open family room, 4 ensuite bedroom up. 3 car garage. Close to school, shopping and public transit.More details
Welcome to 6688 Chelmsford. This is truly a solid custom craftsman home with beautiful entryway and high 20 ft plus ceilings adorned by two large exquisite crystal chandeliers in the living room. Custom millwork cabinets in large kitchen complete with Wolf and Miele range appliances and 48" Subzero fridge. This home is fully loaded with oak hardwood flooring throughout with extensive crown moldings and a comfortable floor plan. This is a very nice family home primely located in the desirable Granville area on a very quiet street. Beautiful brick clad exterior and lovely landscaped yard gives this property street appeal and charm. Large car garage located on side of the house.More details
The best superior quality prestigious centre Granville neighbourhoods. Big lot over 8000sq.ft high ceilings with 5 bdrms, 4.5 baths, 2 kitchens with granite foyer & counters,private backyard! Laminated floors. Glass covered patio at back. Professional landscaped front & back yard.Newly painted exterior wall with brick facing tile roof, 3 car garage, electric gate. Close to Richmond Center, schools, park, transit! LOCATION!LOCATION!LOCATION! Blundell Elementary school and Richmond High School, Great condition for moving in, This is DREAM HOUSE, MUST SEE!Open House June 11 Saturday 2-4pmMore details