An ethnically diverse neighbourhood within Ontario Street on the west and Knight Street on the east, Sunset extends from 41st Avenue south to the Fraser River in southeastern Vancouver, British Columbia. Like most of southeast Vancouver, the area was once mostly working class, but rising prices everywhere have made the area increasingly popular with young professionals and families no longer able to afford houses on the west side.
Background
Formerly part of the incorporated District of South Vancouver, the neighbourhood became part of Vancouver in 1929. As farmland sloping southward to the river with clusters of homes and villages by the 1860s, when the Fraser River was a full day’s journey to the Granville Townsite on the Burrard Inlet by boat or overland through forest and swamp, Sunset welcomed the advance of Westminster Avenue, now Main Street, south from Mount Pleasant in 1910.
The first immigrants from Punjab arrived in Vancouver in the 1890s. Most of them settled in the area around Main Street and 49th Avenue, and many established restaurants and businesses there. Over the years the Sunset neighbourhood has become for Vancouver’s estimated 160,000 South Asian residents a central assembly point of culture and commerce.
The number of Punjabi speakers increased steadily for decades. It is now the most common language in Sunset. More than one in four, 26 per cent of the Sunset population, in 2006 spoke Punjabi as their first language compared to less than three per cent of the general city population, 21 percent spoke Chinese, and 24 percent English. Businesses, restaurants, and services catering to these communities proliferated along Fraser and Main streets; prominent among them was the Punjabi Market.
The Punjabi Market is a commercial district and ethnic enclave in a roughly six-block section around Main Street and 49th Avenue. Vancouver is home to more than 200,000 people of Indian and Pakistani descent, nowhere more vibrant than at the Punjabi Market, a world of glittering bangles, flowing saris, and rich curry aromas. The neighbourhood gives visitors a glimpse of South Asian culture on Canada’s Pacific Coast. Shops sell fine silk saris in a rainbow of bright colors and elaborate gowns with thousands of tiny inlaid gems. Bhangra music from Bollywood films pumps out of storefronts. Fine jewelers offer exquisite gold rings, bracelets, and necklaces. In April, the Punjabi Market celebrates Vaisakhi Day, the Sikh New Year, with a colorful parade through the streets attracting thousands of spectators.
Vancouver’s Punjabi Market has been a city fixture for decades, but the 2013 municipal Assessment Roll Report finds the area in financial trouble: “Values here are down about 15 percent as the regional [Indo-Canadian] retail hub continues to shift towards Surrey.” Even Tourism Vancouver says the Punjabi Market is struggling. Once famous for many jewelry stores, the Punjabi Market now displays lots of empty space for lease. Elsewhere across the city, retail property value assessments rise but decline here as businesses relocate to Surrey.
The Punjabi Market Association says the district needs some help from the city, province, and federal governments if it’s going to survive. The Surrey Board of Trade says its city offers lower rents and taxes than does Vancouver.
LOCATED DIRECTLY across from COLUMBIA PARK! Great opportunity in OAKRIDGE AREA for this Development site with 2-2.5 FSR Cambie Corridor plan zoning for 4-6 storey building on W.42nd Ave and Columbia St. Land Assembly opportunity now available with 211 and 255 W. 42nd Avenue. There are only 5 lots remaining on this block so act now! Prestigious Westside Oakridge Location, close to Skytrain, Oakridge mall, shops and restaurants. Mins from Langara Golf Course & Queen Elizabeth Park. School catchment French Immersion General Gordon Elementary and Churchill Winston Secondary, Sir William Van Horne, Eric Hamber schools. Investors/developers Alert.More details
Build your dream home in the central Cambie Corridor Area. Close to Oakridge Mall and QE Park, 450m to Canada Line. The project is assembled with the neighbor lot 187 W 41st Ave. Vancouver. Total Lot Size: 10,820 sf. with FSR 1.95 finished rezoning 4-story Condo Corner Lot or with FSR 2.5 finished rezoning 6-story Rental apartment. Character Bungalow on the property in good condition, the rent for the two houses is $6000.More details
Build your dream home in the central Cambie Corridor Area. Close to Oakridge Mall and QE Park, 450m to Canada Line. The project is assembled with the neighbor lot 195 W 41st Ave. Vancouver. Total Lot Size: 10,820 sf. with FSR 1.95 finished rezoning 4-story Condo Corner Lot or with FSR 2.5 finished rezoning 6-story Rental apartment. Character Bungalow on the property in good condition, the rent for the two houses is $6000More details
Developer & Investor Alerts - Land Assembly, Located at Cambie Corridor. Walking distance to Marine Drive Canada Line station, Marine Gateway shopping complex, Winona park, Langara college and Langara Golf course. Excellent Transit. Do not miss the development opportunity for a 3 Lots Assembly with a total of 16,695 SQFT. The project has potential for a 6 Storey Secured Rental Policy Building. Potential density of 2.5-2.71 FSR. To be sold as part of a land assembly. (3 Marine Drive SE / 7970/7950/7936 Ontario Street)More details
Developer & Investor Alerts - Land Assembly, Located at Cambie Corridor. Walking distance to Marine Drive Canada Line station, Marine Gateway shopping complex, Winona park, Langara college and Langara Golf course. Excellent Transit. Do not miss the development opportunity for a 3 Lots Assembly with a total of 16,695 SQFT. The project has potential for a 6 Storey Secured Rental Policy Building. Potential density of 2.5-2.71 FSR. To be sold as part of a land assembly. (3 Marine Drive SE / 7970/7950/7936 Ontario Street)More details
Developer & Investor Alerts - Land Assembly, Located at Cambie Corridor. Walking distance to Marine Drive Canada Line station, Marine Gateway shopping complex, Winona park, Langara college and Langara Golf course. Excellent Transit. Do not miss the development opportunity for a 3 Lots Assembly with a total of 16,695 SQFT. The project has potential for a 6 Storey Secured Rental Policy Building. Potential density of 2.5-2.71 FSR. To be sold as part of a land assembly. (3 Marine Drive SE / 7970/7950/7936 Ontario Street)More details
Developer & Investor Alerts - Land Assembly, Located at Cambie Corridor. Walking distance to Marine Drive Canada Line station, Marine Gateway shopping complex, Winona park, Langara college and Langara Golf course. Excellent Transit. Do not miss the development opportunity for a 3 Lots Assembly with a total of 16,695 SQFT. The project has potential for a 6 Storey Secured Rental Policy Building. Potential density of 2.5-2.71 FSR. To be sold as part of a land assembly. (3 Marine Drive SE / 7970/7950/7936 Ontario Street)More details
Developer & Investor Alerts - Land Assembly, Located at Cambie Corridor. Walking distance to Marine Drive Canada Line station, Marine Gateway shopping complex, Winona park, Langara college and Langara Golf course. Excellent Transit. Do not miss the development opportunity for 6 Lots Assembly total of 28,266 SQFT. The project got potential for a 6 storey residential apartment. Potential density of 2.5 FSR. To be sold as part of a land assembly. Land Value only. (8050 Columbia St. 276/282/286/288/298 W 64th Ave.)More details
Listed by RE/MAX Crest Realty
and Magsen Realty Inc.
CUSTOME BUILD home with Laneway House & loaded with extra features, beautiful home with Richmond view, near all amenities & across from Moberly Elementary School. No sump pump, Floorplan sizes by 360, and lot sizes from the survey, all are approximate, separate laneway homes. large play area across the street, and a nice backyard. Covered deck. The basement has 2 entrances. All Offers will be presented. By appointment only. No signMore details
Developer & Investor Alerts - Land Assembly, Located at Cambie Corridor. Walking distance to Marine Drive Canada Line station, Marine Gateway shopping complex, Winona park, Langara college and Langara Golf course. Excellent Transit. Do not miss the development opportunity for 6 Lots Assembly total of 28,266 SQFT. The project got potential for a 6 storey residential apartment. Potential density of 2.5 FSR. To be sold as part of a land assembly. Land Value only. (8050 Columbia St. 276/282/286/288/298 W 64th Ave.)More details
Listed by RE/MAX Crest Realty
and Magsen Realty Inc.