Chinatown Overview
Canada’s largest Chinatown, among the largest in North America, is in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, in the blocks around Main, Pender, and Keefer Streets with the Gastown and Downtown districts to the west, Downtown Eastside to the north, the residential district of Strathcona to the east, and False Creek to the south. Chinatown remains a popular tourist attraction despite the growth of the newer Chinese immigrant business district in the suburb of Richmond south of Vancouver on Lulu Island in the Fraser River. Many affluent Hong Kong and Taiwan immigrants in Richmond have developed successful Chinese businesses in the area now named Golden Village by the City of Richmond, which once proposed the name “Chinatown” only to encounter strong resistance from the original Chinatown in Vancouver and from non-Chinese Richmond residents and merchants.
Asian Influx
The Greater Vancouver Regional District received large numbers of Asian immigrants during the late 20th Century, primarily Chinese, whose population reached 300,000 by the mid-’90s. More immigrants settled in Richmond than in Vancouver Chinatown for its lower costs of living and closer distance to the Vancouver International Airport. The development of suburban Asian shopping districts with plenty of parking space like Richmond’s Aberdeen Centre, visibly impaired the business heart of historic Chinatown.
Decline
Chinatown businesses today consist mostly of working-class retailers, small groceries, tea shops, and souvenir stores. Some restaurants stand out, but there are no longer so many, and their declining numbers brought less foot traffic and nighttime activity than in former times. The 10-percent Chinatown vacancy rate shows the need for a fresh approach to development to replace businesses that have moved to suburban locations, retired, or simply closed. Redevelopment opportunities are clearly present. Chinatown lease rates from $15–30/square foot are the cheapest in the city, much lower than those in Vancouver’s Downtown shopping district.
The Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area
In the 1990s, the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association searched for an effective vehicle for projects to revitalize the area. Gastown and Downtown Vancouver had formed business improvement areas (BIAs) with evident success. With the consent and support of merchants and property owners, the association planned to establish a Chinatown BIA.
After several attempts, the association succeeded in winning the community support necessary establish a Chinatown BIA. The Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area (VCBIA) incorporated in 2000 on a model of BIAs successful in other areas of the city to improve Chinatown’s cleanliness and safety, expand and promote its events, and work with media and external partners to make Chinatown popular and prosperous again. A voluntary board of property owners and tenants manages the VCBIA. The city assists with annual funding through a special property tax like a local improvement levy. Each property’s contribution to the annual BIA budget is according to its proportionate share of the total BIA taxable value.
Information Links:
http://vancouver-chinatown.com
http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/chinatown-revitalization.aspx
Redevelopment Prospects
A new Chinatown business plan now encourages entrepreneurs to move in to rehabilitate storefronts, attract a young crowd, and make visitors more comfortable. Attracted by low rents and heritage buildings, new businesses have moved in with owners in apartments above the shops. Chinatown’s priority now is to attract people of all backgrounds in the belief that non-traditional stores will bring a new flow of energy and income. Commercial activity is increasingly diverse with vintage stores, two art galleries, bars, and now a nightclub at the location of the former Ming’s restaurant, an attempt to bring back some of the nightlife atmosphere of the 1950s and ’60s. The diversity of new shops and businesses has created a new Chinatown image of vibrancy to compete with suburban districts and complement nearby Gastown and Downtown Vancouver.
New Chinatown Live MLS Listings
Chinatown, Vancouver, BC, Real Estate
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511 E GEORGIA Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Land for sale (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2748633
511 E GEORGIA Street Vancouver V6A 1Z8 
$1,298,000Land Only- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2748633
Builders, developers and end users, take advantage of this super rare, 25 x 122 bare land lot in the heart of Strathcona! This dynamic community rarely has new build opportunities come to market. Take advantage of RT-3 Duplex zoning and build your dream front/ back duplex or Single Family Home just steps to everything this incredible area has to offer. With the New St. Pauls Hospital build just around the corner, this area has phenomenal growth potential in the next few years. Showings by appointment only. Please do not walk the property. More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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605 239 KEEFER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "SPARROW" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2739365
605 239 KEEFER Street Vancouver V6A 1X6
$1,125,800Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2739365
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 880 sq. ft.
This is an awesome 2 bedrooms at SPARROW, this amazing home offers 9’ ceilings, full-height windows, and generous walk out patios. The living space features rift-cut white oak floors. The kitchens are a chef's paradise, stunning white oak and white lacquer cabinets, quartz countertops, under-mounted sinks, no-touch faucet, seamless Liebherr fridge, AEG European wall over & induction cooktop and Fisher & Paykel dishwasher. The bathrooms feature wall-mounted vanity and storage, Silestone Calacatta quartz countertops, Italian stone vanity, LED-lighting, rain & hand shower. Bedrooms with well-appointed closet. One parking via car elevator, storage suite or underground. LIMITED TIME OFFER BUY NOW WITH ONLY 5% DOWN AND MOVE IN early 2023! (Chinatown Historic Area) “Short Term Rental Accommodation”. DISPLAY CENTRE NOW OPEN! This is not an offering for sale. Any such offerings may only be made with a Disclosure Statement. E.&O.E. More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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505 239 KEEFER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "SPARROW" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2739329
505 239 KEEFER Street Vancouver V6A 1X6
$1,108,800Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2739329
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 880 sq. ft.
This is an awesome 2 bedrooms at SPARROW, this amazing home offers 9’ ceilings, full-height windows, and generous walk out patios. The living space features rift-cut white oak floors. The kitchens are a chef's paradise, stunning white oak and white lacquer cabinets, quartz countertops, under-mounted sinks, no-touch faucet, seamless Liebherr fridge, AEG European wall over & induction cooktop and Fisher & Paykel dishwasher. The bathrooms feature wall-mounted vanity and storage, Silestone Calacatta quartz countertops, Italian stone vanity, LED-lighting, rain & hand shower. Bedrooms with well-appointed closet. One parking via car elevator, storage suite or underground. LIMITED TIME OFFER BUY NOW WITH ONLY 5% DOWN AND MOVE IN early 2023! (Chinatown Historic Area) “Short Term Rental Accommodation”. DISPLAY CENTRE NOW OPEN! This is not an offering for sale. Any such offerings may only be made with a Disclosure Statement. E.&O.E. More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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214 55 E CORDOVA Street in Vancouver: Downtown VE Condo for sale in "KORET LOFTS" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2725968
214 55 E CORDOVA Street Vancouver V6A 0A5
$995,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2725968
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 1,136 sq. ft.
Built in 1908 and originally named "McLellan and McFeely"Building.The Epitome of Manhattan living. This unit housed the VAULT in the old building offices and as such offers privacy to the Bathroom area not seen in other units. Beautiful heritage conversion loft with polished concrete floors, exposed brick walls, restored double sash windows,ll'high ceilings and stunning fir wood beams. Functional kitchen with stainless steel counters. Suite has 1 underground parking, and building has large courtyard patio area with 2 BBQ's. Live/work zoning allows for many uses.2 pets allows, rental restriction min of 7 days for furnished, 1 year for non-furnished. Live/work zoning.ALSO AVAILABLE NEXT DOOR #215 SO COMBINE 2 SUITS!WHAT AN AMAZING PROJECT THAT WOULD BE!(approx 2000 sq ft combined). More detailsListed by Royal LePage Sussex - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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215 55 E CORDOVA Street in Vancouver: Downtown VE Condo for sale in "KORET LOFTS" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2726025
215 55 E CORDOVA Street Vancouver V6A 0A5
$895,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2726025
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 928 sq. ft.
Work Loft space in Historic Gastown.cFeely"Built in 1908 and originally named "McLellan and McFeely" b uilding.The Epitome of Manhattan living.This suite features 11' high ceilings, polished concrete flrs. European modular industrial style stainless steel kitchen with AEG oven, gas cooktop, Bosch d/w & LG fridge, walk-through shower. Duravit tub and Porcher sink. A glass partition wall has been added to provide privacy for your large bedroom. other upgrades include a walk-in closet.Immediate possession is 2 pets allowed, rental restriction 7 days min furnished or 1 yr non-furnished. ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SALE IS NEXT DOOR #214 SO COMBINE THE 2 SUITS! WHAT AN AMAZING PROJECT THAT WOULD BE.(APPROX 2000 SQ FT) More detailsListed by Royal LePage Sussex - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
