A bold reimagining of Central Lonsdale is underway, as the City of North Vancouver moves forward with its ambitious Lonsdale Great Street Project. Aiming to elevate the urban experience, the initiative seeks to enhance walkability, business vitality, and livability in the city's bustling commercial heart.
A Vision for a Vibrant Urban Core
Central Lonsdale, often called the “downtown of the North Shore,” is the beating heart of the City of North Vancouver. Surrounded by dense residential neighbourhoods and serving as a vital transit and commercial corridor, the area is now at the centre of a comprehensive revitalization initiative. The Lonsdale Great Street Project, identified as a strategic priority under the City’s "Vibrant City" plan, is more than a facelift—it’s a forward-looking plan to transform the street into an inclusive, people-first urban destination.
With assistance from globally renowned urban designers Gehl and Associates, the City is taking a holistic approach to reimagining the corridor. The goal: to support local businesses, elevate public spaces, and ensure the area meets the evolving needs of residents, workers, and visitors alike.
What’s Driving the Project?
As population density in Central Lonsdale soars—at 14,415 people per square kilometre, it far outpaces surrounding areas—so too does the demand for public amenities, commercial space, and housing diversity. Residents have voiced a need for more gathering spaces, better green infrastructure, and a commercial mix that reflects the neighbourhood’s character.
With the redevelopment of the Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre on the horizon and existing anchors like Lions Gate Hospital and Civic Plaza in place, the timing is ripe to weave these nodes into a more connected and inviting street experience.
Climate resilience, accessibility, and sustainable infrastructure also feature prominently in the project’s vision, ensuring that the Great Street concept serves long-term community and environmental needs.
Community Voices Shape the Vision
Public engagement has been central to the project. The first round of consultations wrapped up in early 2025 with a record-breaking 2,665 survey responses and several well-attended events. From these, several clear themes emerged:
Desire for Green Space and Nature: More trees, native plantings, and rain gardens were among the top requests.
Need for Inviting Public Spaces: Residents want plazas, weather-protected seating, and spaces that foster community connection.
Year-Round Activity: Calls for more events, car-free days, and improved nighttime ambiance point to a yearning for vibrancy.
Improved Safety and Comfort: Respondents cited noise, pollution, and sidewalk conditions as barriers to enjoyment.
Better Business Mix: Many expressed a preference for more independent, everyday shops over repetitive chains and financial services.
Mobility and Parking Challenges: Safer crossings, better lighting, improved transit links, and smarter use of laneways were common asks.
A Four-Phase Path to Completion
The Lonsdale Great Street Project follows a phased timeline aiming for completion by the end of 2025:
Phase One (Completed) focused on public consultation and data gathering, producing a “What We Heard” report and identifying key considerations.
Phase Two (Ongoing) involves shaping the project’s vision, generating concept scenarios, and developing an evaluation framework. Temporary pilot projects may also begin rolling out this year.
Phase Three (Q3 2025) will develop the comprehensive plan and conduct a high-level feasibility study to ensure ideas are grounded in reality.
Phase Four (Q3–Q4 2025) will deliver an implementation plan, complete with funding strategies, phasing schedules, and detailed plans for short- and long-term upgrades.
Funding and Forward Momentum
With $2.1 million in funding—$2 million of it from the provincial Growing Communities Fund—the City has the means to pilot quick wins while planning for long-term transformation. Temporary activations, like enhanced laneways or pop-up plazas, could begin appearing as early as this year.
The strategy also emphasizes collaboration across City departments and continued engagement with stakeholders from business, institutional, residential, and development sectors.
Why It Matters
Central Lonsdale is already a place of immense potential. With its mix of local shops, stunning views, and proximity to transit, it has the bones of a truly exceptional urban corridor. The Lonsdale Great Street Project aims to unlock that potential—not by radically remaking the area, but by refining and enriching what already makes it special.
From vibrant street life and resilient infrastructure to inclusive design and economic opportunity, this revitalization effort could become a model for how Metro Vancouver cities approach urban placemaking in dense, diverse neighbourhoods.
Curious how Central Lonsdale might evolve over the next year—and what it could mean for residents, businesses, and investors? We’re keeping close tabs on the Lonsdale Great Street Project as it unfolds. Want to stay in the loop with expert local insights? Let’s talk.
