Downtown Vancouver’s iconic Granville Street is on the cusp of a major transformation. Through the ambitious Granville Street Planning Program, the City of Vancouver is laying the groundwork for a revitalized future that honours the area’s historic character while addressing long-standing challenges and creating space for inclusive cultural growth. A final plan is expected to go before City Council in June 2025, charting a 20-year path to reshape the beloved, yet beleaguered, entertainment corridor.
A Vision to Reinvent Granville Street
Spanning Granville Street from Drake to Robson—an area historically rich in nightlife, neon, and cultural landmarks—the plan aims to re-establish this stretch as an exciting, safe, and inclusive downtown destination. Drawing from public input and informed by reconciliation goals, economic needs, and community priorities, the City’s vision integrates land use changes, transportation shifts, and bold public space strategies.
At its heart, the plan is about balance: blending heritage with modern vibrancy, boosting both daytime and nighttime activity, and ensuring the street is welcoming for everyone—residents, businesses, tourists, and the host Nations whose unceded territories form the foundation of this space.
What’s Coming: Key Moves and Sub-Areas
Granville’s future will unfold through five major “key moves”:
Entertainment District Management – Coordinating safety, public realm upgrades, and ongoing management for a better street experience.
Arts, Culture & Entertainment – Reinforcing Granville’s role as a cultural beacon with more live music, public art, and all-ages performance spaces.
Land Use & Development – Encouraging diverse new developments, heritage preservation, and increased commercial activity.
Public Space Improvements – Introducing a signature pedestrian-only zone, with flexible public space for events, patios, and gatherings.
Transportation Realignment – Rerouting buses to Howe and Seymour streets to make room for pedestrian-first design on Granville.
The corridor will be divided into three sub-areas, each with a distinct focus:
City Centre (Granville & Robson): Envisioned as a civic heart anchored by a new public plaza. SkyTrain access will be highlighted, new towers may rise, and the intersection will feature a digital art landmark akin to a mini Times Square.
Entertainment Core (Smithe to Davie): A vibrant hub for nightlife and cultural venues like the Orpheum and Commodore. Outdoor performance space, patio culture, and heritage neon will define the experience. Notably, no new housing will be added here to preserve the district’s character and mitigate noise conflicts.
Bridgehead (near Granville Bridge): A quieter, mixed-use area connecting Granville to Yaletown and South Granville. Emphasis will be on local shops, social buildings (combining housing and other uses), and intimate public spaces.
Pedestrian-First Future
One of the plan’s most striking features is the proposed year-round pedestrian zone running from Granville Bridge to Waterfront Station. In the short term, this will begin with seasonal closures during summer months—transforming the street into a people-centric promenade filled with patios, street performers, and community events.
To accommodate transit needs, buses will be shifted to Howe and Seymour streets, with significant upgrades like bus-only lanes, wider sidewalks, better shelters, and improved wayfinding. These changes are essential to maintain transit reliability while freeing up Granville Street for public life.
Reviving Culture, Reclaiming Public Space
Granville’s legacy as Vancouver’s entertainment district is central to the plan. From vaudeville to rock concerts, the street has always had a soundtrack—and now the City wants to turn up the volume. The strategy calls for protecting existing venues, incentivizing new cultural spaces, and supporting Indigenous-led public art and self-determined cultural spaces.
Public safety and cleanliness are top priorities. The plan includes gender-based safety initiatives, more accessible public washrooms, and collaborative street outreach efforts—particularly in addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
A major cultural touchpoint will be the new video screen zone at Granville and Robson. This area will serve as a visual and social landmark, hosting art installations and performances while generating revenue for cultural programming through ad partnerships.
Development with Purpose
With updated zoning and design guidelines, new developments will be encouraged—but not at the expense of the area’s soul. Heritage preservation, building articulation, and the classic “sawtooth” storefront pattern will be reinforced. New developments must meet high acoustic standards, particularly near nightlife zones, and contribute to broader public benefits such as affordable housing, job space, and cultural amenities.
Importantly, interim policies are in place to prevent speculative development and ensure that new projects align with long-term community priorities.
Public Input and Path Forward
Thousands of Vancouverites have weighed in during the multi-phase engagement process, with strong support emerging for the plan’s cultural vision, pedestrian-first approach, and mixed-use revitalization. Safety and transit access remain concerns—but the City is working closely with community groups, businesses, and the public to fine-tune the final draft before Council consideration in June.
A 20-Year Commitment to Change
The Granville Street Planning Program isn’t a quick fix—it’s a layered, forward-thinking roadmap to restore one of Vancouver’s most recognizable corridors. If successful, it will blend old and new, day and night, movement and gathering—recasting Granville as not just a place to go out, but a place to belong.
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