Vancouver city council has unanimously approved the Granville Street Plan, a 20-year strategy aimed at transforming the downtown entertainment strip into a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented destination.

The plan calls for the eventual removal of vehicle traffic along Granville Street from the north end of the Granville Bridge to West Cordova Street, creating a car-free, event-friendly corridor. It envisions high-density, mixed-use developments that will include new hotels, office and retail space, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues, and limited residential uses in certain areas.

Key features of the plan include reviving the street’s historic neon signage and designating the intersection of Robson and Granville streets as a hub for large-scale video screens, in a style similar to Times Square in New York or Piccadilly Circus in London. Seasonal bus rerouting will begin in the summer months, with permanent changes planned over time to accommodate the pedestrian-focused vision.

“I think it’s a really exciting, really thoughtful plan, and I really think this is a pivotal moment for downtown and for entertainment district,” said Coun. Peter Meiszner, a member of the ruling ABC Party, during the council meeting. “It really can be an incredible space and venue for visitors and residents, and I really believe this plan is gonna help us achieve this. It’s really rare to see such alignment on a planning initiative. I don’t think we had a single speaker that was opposed to the plan, it signals how important the street is to our city’s identity, and I think the collective recognition that change is needed.”

The plan was approved with amendments. Some developers called for it to include residential development projects, which are not permitted. But the developers did not get their wish granted, according Daily Hive Urbanized.

Time will tell whether the developers eventually do.

Pictured: Granville Street entertainment district.

Photo: Shutterstock