Granville Street Set for Major Makeover
Granville Street fire highlights urgent need to replace aging supportive housing as Vancouver prepares for FIFA 2026 and over one million visitors.
Granville Revitalization
By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | June 16, 2025
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Vancouver’s iconic Granville Street is on the cusp of a major transformation, thanks to a series of strategic moves by the Province and City Council aimed at revitalizing the downtown core, improving public safety, and ensuring dignified housing for vulnerable residents.
Back in June 2020, the Province, through BC Housing, purchased the 110-room Howard Johnson Hotel at 1176 Granville Street as part of a broader strategy to deliver more affordable housing in Vancouver. Initially used as temporary supportive housing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the building offered wraparound supports including meals, healthcare, and addictions treatment—operated by the Atira Women’s Resource Society.
That commitment to housing continues today with new momentum. The Province has now informed the City of its intention to transition supportive housing out of the Granville Entertainment District (GED) and into safer, more dignified homes that offer full support systems. This move aims to improve the lives of the city’s most vulnerable residents while also addressing long-standing concerns of business owners and community members.
“This is about two things,” said a City spokesperson. “Ensuring our most vulnerable neighbours receive the care and dignity they deserve, and supporting local businesses—like Aura—who’ve been impacted for far too long.”
Credit for this step forward goes to civic leaders such as Peter Meiszner, whose recent amendment accelerated the timeline, and long-time advocates Lisa Dominato and Sarah Kirby-Yung. Their efforts reflect years of dedication to improving both housing solutions and the downtown business climate.
A Bold Vision for Granville Street
Adding to this positive momentum, Vancouver City Council has unanimously approved the Granville Street Plan, a comprehensive 20-year vision to transform the downtown entertainment corridor into a vehicle-free, event-friendly, pedestrian-first zone stretching from the Granville Bridge to Waterfront Station.
Described by Councillor Peter Meiszner as a “pivotal moment for downtown,” the plan includes the seasonal rerouting of TransLink buses off Granville Street—using Seymour for northbound and Howe for southbound routes—to allow temporary closures for summer festivals, concerts, and public activations. Over time, this rerouting will become permanent, turning Granville into a continuous linear plaza that enhances safety, tourism, and local business traffic.
“This strategy reflects the city’s collective recognition that change is needed,” Meiszner added. “There was unanimous support—public and private—for this plan. It shows how important Granville is to Vancouver’s identity.”
Balancing Culture, Business, and Housing
While the plan focuses on entertainment, dining, and public space, there remains healthy debate about the role of residential development. Some property owners and developers have proposed allowing mixed-use residential units above commercial podiums, especially in areas suffering from low office occupancy rates. City planners, however, have decided to prohibit residential uses within the core entertainment blocks (Smithe to Davie Streets), citing noise and nightlife incompatibility.
Still, residential development is permitted on northern and southern ends of the entertainment district, paving the way for new rental and social housing that can help replace aging SROs and offer modern, integrated housing options—like those proposed by Bonnis Properties at 800 Granville Street.
Moving Forward Together
These actions—repositioning housing, reinvesting in public space, and setting long-term strategies—are all part of the broader effort to make downtown Vancouver vibrant, safe, inclusive, and economically resilient.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Granville Street is poised to become a shining example of how cities can blend social responsibility with economic revitalization. From providing supportive housing to launching one of North America’s most exciting pedestrian-focused plans, Vancouver is proving it’s ready for the future.
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