Kitsilano Life
A Vancouver Beach Neighbourhood
The Kitsilano westside neighbourhood of the Canadian City of Vancouver in British Columbia is on the shore of English Bay on the north between the flanking neighbourhoods of Point Grey at Alma Street on the west and Fairview east at Burrard Street on the east. West 16th Avenue is the southern border with the neighbourhoods of Dunbar, Arbutus Ridge, and Shaughnessy. Notable neighbourhood landmarks are the Burrard Street Bridge, a five-lane, Art Deco style, steel-truss bridge constructed in 1932 to connect Kitsilano to Downtown Vancouver, the splendid Kitsilano Beach, and the Maritime Museum and MacMillan Space Centre, both in Vanier Park near the beach. Kitsilano hosts the annual Vancouver International Children’s Festival, Bard on the Beach outdoor Shakespeare festival, and Celebration of Light fireworks competition.
Mostly residential with commercial areas on West 4th Avenue and West Broadway, Kitsilano’s population was 40,595 according to the 2006 Census, a 2.5-percent increase from 2001. English is the dominant language of area residents followed by Chinese; however, French, German, Greek, Japanese, and Spanish are not uncommon. About 75.0 percent speak English as their native language, 4.5 percent Chinese, and 3.2 percent French. The 2006 neighbourhood median household income was $53,455, and 21.3 percent of residents live in low-income households.
Historical Development
Vancouver streetcar lines once had a loop at Arbutus & Cornwall, making the beach area easily accessible from the new city, then still mostly on the small Downtown peninsula on the north side of the Burrard Street Bridge over False Creek. The Lulu Island Railway opened an interurban line from Downtown Granville & Pacific streets to Richmond via Seventh Avenue and Arbutus Street through Kerrisdale in the 1890s, putting more of the neighbourhood within easy range of Downtown.
An inexpensive neighbourhood in the 1960s, Kitsilano attracted many countercultural residents from across Canada and the USA and became with Gastown one of two such city neighbourhoods gentrified in later decades. Easy access to Downtown Vancouver and walking distance to parks, beaches, and ever popular Granville Island in Fairview have made the neighbourhood very desirable. Following the days of the counterculture, many environmentalists came to Vancouver. Greenpeace opened its first office in Kitsilano in 1975 as did the Green Party of British Columbia in 1983.
Information Links:
http://shopwest4th.com/
http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/kitsilano.aspx
http://kitscc.com
Parks and Beaches
Kitsilano has seventeen parks, six playgrounds, an off-leash dog park, and one of Vancouver’s finest, most popular beaches with a franchise restaurant, the heated, salt-water outdoor Kitsilano Pool open from May to September, longest (137 metres/150 yards) swimming pool in Canada, and the Kitsilano Showboat, which has operated since 1935 as essentially an open-air amphitheatre with free performances from local bands and dance groups to entertain residents and tourists and showcase amateur talent.
No New Beach Bicycle Trail for Now
After months of vocal opposition and a lawsuit, the Vancouver park board in February 2014 gave up on plans for a new $2.2 million bicycle trail through Hadden Park and Kitsilano Beach and directed its staff to improve safety on the present trail through the parks. Opponents obtained in November 2013 a court order enjoining the board from breaking ground on the project until the case against it could be heard fully. An opposition spokesman said she was happy that “we won’t be putting blacktop through our precious green space.” The discontinued proposed project would have completed the city’s Seaside Greenway route from Coal Harbour to Jericho Beach Park on English Bay in the Point Grey neighbourhood several miles west of Kitsilano Beach.
New Kitsilano Live MLS Listings
Kitsilano Life: A Vancouver Beach Neighbourhood
-
2182 W 5TH Avenue in Vancouver: Kitsilano House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2771574
2182 W 5TH Avenue Vancouver V6K 1S2 
$4,990,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2771574
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 2,309 sq. ft.
Attention: Investors and Developers. Approved Broadway Plan Investment/Development lot in the prestigious Kitsilano neighbourhood. Your chance to be one of the Þrst to own in this highly desirable development area. Within 5 minutes walk to the future arbutus skytrain station. 10 min walk to Kits Beach. Close to shopping, restaurants, and schools. Several development choices available under the Broadway Plan. Potential to be sold together with 2188 W 5th Avenue to create 50' frontage. More detailsListed by Dracco Pacific Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
3616 POINT GREY Road in Vancouver: Kitsilano House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2777396
3616 POINT GREY Road Vancouver V6R 1A9
$4,688,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2777396
- Bedrooms:
- 7
- Bathrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 2,969 sq. ft.
For more information, click the Brochure button below. Panoramic OCEAN, MOUNTAIN & CITY rooftop VIEWS! Living by the Sea. Shaughnessy in Kitsilano. This architecturally beautiful Craftsman house on Vancouver's prestigious Golden Mile is near the beach, Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Jericho Tennis Club, shops, restaurants, downtown & UBC. Relax on the covered front porch overlooking Point Grey Road with privacy provided by a garden of mature Rhododendrons. Rewired, re-plumbed, oak & fir floors, wainscoting, coffered high ceilings, wide grand switchback staircase, 7 bedrooms, 3 with large walk-in closets upstairs. Detached garage, paved alley. More detailsListed by Stratten Gates Real Estate Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
2336 W 14TH Avenue in Vancouver: Kitsilano House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2814617
2336 W 14TH Avenue Vancouver V6K 2W3
$4,599,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2814617
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Bathrooms:
- 4
- Floor Area:
- 3,856 sq. ft.
Stunning Family Home on a large 50x125 lot. Built in 2012 & well kept by its original owners. Vaulted wood beam ceilings in the open concept living/kitchen/dining room is perfect for entertaining. Gourmet Kit with custom cabinets, Viking range & wall oven, and tons of storage. Enjoy radiant in-floor heat, ENG HW floors, central Air Conditioning, and French doors that lead to your private backyard. Main floor equipped with a mudroom, dog wash, powder room, and a MBDRM w/ an ensuite & WIC. 10' ceilings upstairs for another MBDRM w/ an ensuite, a large second bedroom, a den, and a 3pc washroom. Bring your ideas to the 1285sf unfinished basement with 9' ceilings. Private hedge lined yard has a pergola, fan, infrared heaters, and remote controlled awnings. Open House SUN Sept 24 (2-4pm) More detailsListed by One Percent Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
3556 W 3RD Avenue in Vancouver: Kitsilano Triplex for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2809694
3556 W 3RD Avenue Vancouver V6R 1L7
$4,588,000Multifamily- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2809694
- Bedrooms:
- 7
- Bathrooms:
- 7
- Floor Area:
- 3,069 sq. ft.
Rare opportunity in one of Vancouver's best locations! Charming brand new home with 2-5-10 New Home Warranty close to the beach, shops, tennis and yacht clubs and best schools. 3 legal suites with potential to strata title! The 1417 sq ft, 3 level, 3 bedroom and 3 bath unit with A/C is perfect or an owner occupier or can be rented for potentially $5000. An 892 sq ft, 2 level, 2 bedroom with 1.5 baths and a 759 sq ft garden level 2 bedroom and 2 bath unit can generate approximately $8000. Home is perfect for a family needing their separate spaces or mortgage helpers or for an investor looking for a top quality investment. So many options! Each unit has been finished with excellent style and quality. This is an incredible opportunity you don't want to let pass by! More detailsListed by Interlink Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
2704 W 12TH Avenue in Vancouver: Kitsilano House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2718847
2704 W 12TH Avenue Vancouver V6K 2P6
$4,499,999Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2718847
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Bathrooms:
- 4
- Floor Area:
- 4,107 sq. ft.
On the market for the first time in over 60 years is this superb Kitsilano original heritage residence that rates a heritage b status from the city of Vancouver. Situated on TWO 33 x 132 foot, RS-5 zoned lots, this is an ideal opportunity for a heritage retention project that allows for the creation of extra new density at the rear of this 4,107 sq foot three storey home. Located in the catchment area of Carnarvon Elementary & Kitsilano Secondary School. More detailsListed by Macdonald Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
