Ups and Downs in Kerrisdale
Geography and Demography
In the Canadian City of Vancouver, British Columbia, the affluent westside neighbourhood of Kerrisdale lies between 33d Avenue on the north, Blenheim Street on the west, West Avenue on the east, and the Fraser River on the south. Commercial shopping districts are along West 41st Avenue from Larch to Maple streets and along West Boulevard from 37th to 47th avenues.
The 2006 Census reported 14,615 inhabitants. Originally thoroughly British demographically, Kerrisdale has received since the mid ’80s an influx of affluent Hong Kong emigrants, many of whom have built large, modern houses, making Kerrisdale an architectural mixture of lavish new and renovated houses. In 2007, Blocktalk.ca reported an estimated median annual household income of $113,286, much higher than the average for Metro Vancouver generally.
History
In 1862, the McCleery family became the first to farm the land of the present McCleery Golf Course on the river. By the mid-1870s, with many more families farming the area, the logging industry was well underway. A local legend is that “Kerrisdale” is a corruption of “Kerry’s Dale,” the ancestral home in Scotland of an early resident who, when asked to choose a name for a British Columbia Electric Railway station for the area, made that choice. In 1912, the streetcar went from Kerrisdale along then-graveled 41st Avenue to Granville Street, where connecting service took passengers to Downtown Vancouver.
Until 1929, when they merged to form the City of Vancouver, three municipalities, Vancouver, South Vancouver, and Point Grey, which included Kerrisdale, provided local government services. Point Grey Secondary School, founded in 1929, and the Point Grey Golf & Country Club recall those earlier days. The Kerrisdale Community Centre now occupies the block on which the Point Grey Municipal office once stood.
Kerrisdale Business Association
The West 41st Avenue businesses between Larch and Maple streets belong to the Kerrisdale Business Association. In all, about 250 businesses and property owners are members. Established in 1990, it is the oldest business association in Vancouver. Members fund general area maintenance and beautification, hiring a full-time gardener during summer months. The association employs for its properties a nighttime security force that operates during daytime hours as well in December.
Every September, association members elect a board of directors of about 25 individuals who then appoint executive officers. The full board meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Dedicated board members engage fully in committees on beautification, finance, marketing, parking, publicity, and security.
Information Links:
http://www.kerrisdalevillage.com/index.php
http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/kerrisdale.aspx
http://www.kerrisdalecc.com
http://vancouver.ca/docs/planning/arbutus-ridge-kerrisdale-shaughnessy-arks-community-vision-full-report.pdf
An Association Casualty
Inevitably, there must be a downside to the steady rise in Kerrisdale property values. As an example, Thomas Hobbs opened a gift shop on West 41st Avenue near West Boulevard in the heart of the business association area in 1989 and operated it for 23 years until closing in December 2012. Hobbs said the gift shop was Vancouver’s “home store” for which he travelled to Italy and France for high-end merchandise artfully displayed behind his store windows. Hobbs lamented that most shoppers now seem to prefer big box stores over independent retailers.
Hobbs said the gift shop is not the only victim of Kerrisdale’s changing times. To make that point, his 2012 Halloween storefront display had tombstones etched with the names of other Kerrisdale independent businesses that have closed in recent years. Hobbs said annual rent on his retail space had increased tremendously to $120,000, half of which pays the landlord’s property tax. He estimated that he has paid millions of dollars in rent since opening the shop in 1989.
New Kerrisdale Live MLS Listings
Ups and Downs in Kerrisdale
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6425 VINE Street in Vancouver: Kerrisdale House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2701886
6425 VINE Street Vancouver V6M 4A9 
$6,000,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2701886
- Bedrooms:
- 8
- Bathrooms:
- 6
- Floor Area:
- 6,613 sq. ft.
This is the heart of Kerrisdale. A Great family kitchen with adjacent family room all facing West to the private manicured gardens. 5 large bedrooms up and the 6th bedroom downstair. The main rooms are perfect for entertaining and enjoying those family occasions. A short stroll to Kerrisdale shops & restaurants, the best golf courses, and Maple Grove Elementary & Magee Secondary Schools. More detailsListed by Macdonald Realty Westmar
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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6633 LABURNUM Street in Vancouver: Kerrisdale House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2731778
6633 LABURNUM Street Vancouver V6P 5M6
$5,998,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2731778
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 7
- Floor Area:
- 4,812 sq. ft.
Gorgeous custom built home on a quiet tree lined street in desirable prime Kerrisdale area. Over 4800 SF elegant living space with excellent open layout & design; high quality materials, cabinetry and mill work. Gourmet/ Wok kitchen with high end Miele & Wolf S/S appliances. 2nd Floor 3 spacious ensuite bedrooms all with Wi-Closet. Family room feature with triple glazed F&S glass door open onto covered huge deck with gas hookup for BBQ & entmt. Basement offers 2 bed/ 2 baths, Rec Room w/Wet Bar/ Wine Fridge, Home Theater. Features: triple glazed European style windows, A/C, HRV, radiant heat, smart home system, 3 car garage & carport. Walk distance to shopping/ restaurants/ community center/ Magee Secondary/Maple Grove Elementary. More detailsListed by Magsen Realty Inc. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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6463 BALSAM Place in Vancouver: Kerrisdale House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2738086
6463 BALSAM Place Vancouver V6M 4L9
$5,780,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2738086
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 7
- Floor Area:
- 6,135 sq. ft.
This lot is enormous - 77.7x140.7'!! Custom built home in a quiet cul-de-sac located in the prestige Kerrisdale area. Large lot 10,860sf, with 6 bedrooms, 7 baths, total 6135sf. Features Extensive use of marble, granite, wood, solid maple door, quality finishing. Feature Radiant heat, A/C, home theatre, indoor pool, sauna, steam shower, wet bar in the basement, recreational activities and relaxation. Electronic security gate access to the 4 car-garage in the rear and more. Great and quiet neighborhood. Close to Crofton House, McGee, Secondary & Maple Grove Elementary School. Steps to Kerrisdale shopping area, Golf course & Community Centre. A must see! More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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6455 VINE Street in Vancouver: Kerrisdale House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2730633
6455 VINE Street Vancouver V6M 4A9
$5,600,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2730633
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 5
- Floor Area:
- 4,354 sq. ft.
The heart of Kerrisdale. A Great family kitchen with adjacent family room all facing West to the private manicured gardens. Beautiful 44 x 13 pool, hot tub, pool cabana with new sauna, shower and covered seating area. The move in ready 4 bdrm/4.5 bath home shows beautifully, bright open foyer, many skylights, large kit, with eat area and adj family room overlooking the beautifully landscaped yard. new Trane A/C 2019, new roof-2018, Many upgrades including renovated baths and newly painted and fully renovation with total over $600,000. Lovely neighbourhood close to shops and parks A short stroll to Kerrisdale shops & restaurants, the best golf courses, and Maple Grove Elementary & Magee Secondary Schools. More detailsListed by Macdonald Realty Westmar - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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5575 LARCH Street in Vancouver: Kerrisdale House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2742880
5575 LARCH Street Vancouver V6M 4C9
$4,980,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2742880
- Bedrooms:
- 7
- Bathrooms:
- 6
- Floor Area:
- 4,025 sq. ft.
Kerrisdale building lot is 6,276 sq.ft executive home showcases QUALITY, STYLE & ELEGANCE. SOUTH backyard luxury home located in Vancouver Westside! Beautifully designed & built, 4 ensuite bdrms upstairs, 2 extra bdrms in the basement with a prof theatre. Solid building with all high end material and and details in craftsmanship & supreme finishing. Italian Marble, Sub Zero refrigerator, 2 Wolf Stove/Ranges, Schonbeck Crystal Lights. 10 Foot ceilings on main, 9 foot ceilings in basement roughed in for a 2 bedroom suite with self contained laundry; , Radiant floor heating system, A/C, HRV, central vacuum. This home has everything you need close to a lot of private school : CROFTON HOUSE & ST.GEORGE'S, UBC & GOLFING & SHOPPING. Don't miss your home! More detailsListed by LeHomes Realty Premier - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
