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
-
501 239 KEEFER Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "SPARROW" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2727240
501 239 KEEFER Street Vancouver V6A 1X6 
$595,800Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2727240
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 577 sq. ft.
This is an awesome 1 bedroom 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. Beautifully appointed bedroom with well-appointed closet. The building features common outdoor courtyard garden for all to enjoy. Storage included in 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
-
304 219 E GEORGIA Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "The Flats" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2744778
304 219 E GEORGIA Street Vancouver V6A 1Z6
$549,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2744778
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 630 sq. ft.
This is it, welcome to THE FLATS. A modern, concrete,1 bedroom corner unit in this highly sought after Boutique residence. North West exposure with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door with Juliet balcony, modern finishings and an industrial feel. For privacy and very unique architectural feature, the building comes with metal folding shutters. Features include high end Fisher & Paykel appliances and a Blomberg refrigerator, concrete floors throughout and one external storage locker included. Enjoy the massive rooftop patio with incredible mountain views & outdoor kitchen area. Pets and rentals allowed including nightly airbnb. More detailsListed by Engel & Volkers Vancouver - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
603 219 E GEORGIA Street in Vancouver: Strathcona Condo for sale in "THE FLATS" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2748004
603 219 E GEORGIA Street Vancouver V6A 1Z6
$518,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2748004
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 495 sq. ft.
AIRBNB friendly 1 bedroom for sale in THE FLATS. A modern, concrete,1 bedroom unit in this highly sought after Boutique residence. West exposure with floor-to-ceiling Bi-fold glass door with Juliet balcony, modern finishings and an industrial feel. Features include high end Fisher & Paykel appliances, Blomberg refrigerator, concrete floors throughout and one external storage locker included. Built by the Panther Group with Birmingham & Wood as Architects. Enjoy the massive rooftop patio with incredible mountain views & outdoor kitchen area. Fantastic restaurants, coffee shops and markets on this street. Pets allowed. Showing by appt. only Thursday 3-4pm Friday 2-3pm & Sunday 1:00 -2:30 pm More detailsListed by Engel & Volkers Vancouver - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
315 168 POWELL Street in Vancouver: Downtown VE Condo for sale (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2746894
315 168 POWELL Street Vancouver V6A 0B2
$499,999Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2746894
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 550 sq. ft.
Welcome to "Smart!" This concrete building is located in the heart of GASTOWN. Imagine living in one of the best tourist spots in Vancouver. Walking distance to all restaurants, cafe and shops. This unit has 1bedroom and 1 bath and has an open floor plan with upgraded European style kitchen, well designed space and a private balcony. Comes with 1 parking and 1 storage. This home is a perfect lifestyle choice and also a great investment. More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
903 150 E CORDOVA Street in Vancouver: Downtown VE Condo for sale in "InGastown" (Vancouver East) : MLS®# R2742266
903 150 E CORDOVA Street Vancouver V6A 1K9
$469,900Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2742266
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Floor Area:
- 519 sq. ft.
Welcome to this fantastic sub-penthouse level apartment with access to an amazing communal rooftop with incredible views, outdoor kitchen, bbq area & meeting room. This stunning view apartment has many stylish features including beautiful polished concrete floors, high-end appliances, quartz countertops & a gas range. Conveniently located within walking distance to waterfront parks, downtown core, Railtown, Chinatown, Yaletown, Skytrain & Seabus stations. Ideal INVESTMENT property, pied-à-terre or starter home for young professionals. In this PRIME LOCATION there’s no need for a car, but if you have one, there's ample amounts of public parking in the area! Furnishings included, 1 Storage & 1 Bike Locker, Rentals & Pets Allowed. 2-5-10 Year Warranty. Tenanted - $2,200/month beginning Feb 1. More detailsListed by Zolo Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
