Granville Street

Last updated
Granville Street
Granville Street night view 2018.jpg
Night view of Granville Street, Downtown (2018)
Part ofBC-99.svg Hwy 99
Namesake Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville
Type Street
Length9.8 km (6.1 mi) [1]
Location Vancouver, British Columbia
Nearest metro station Translinkexpo.svg Granville
Translinkcanada.svg Vancouver City Centre
South end SW Marine Drive
Major
junctions
70th Avenue
41st Avenue
Broadway
Seymore Street/Howe Street
Georgia Street
Hastings Street
North endCordova Street
Other
Known forShopping districts, Granville Entertainment District, Granville Mall, Granville Island, South Granville
Streetcars on Granville in 1928 Streetcars at Granville and Robson.jpg
Streetcars on Granville in 1928

Granville Street is a major street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and part of Highway 99. Granville Street is most often associated with the Granville Entertainment District and the Granville Mall. This street also cuts through residential neighbourhoods like Shaughnessy and Marpole via the Granville Street Bridge.

Contents

Location

A southbound view of Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver Granville Southbound Aug 21 2005.jpg
A southbound view of Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver

Granville Street runs generally north–south through the centre of Vancouver, passing through several neighbourhoods and commercial areas, differing appreciably in their land value and the wealth of their residents.

Granville runs northeast–southwest:

Then, Granville Street runs north–south:

Finally, Granville Street ends near the Fraser River at the approximate location of 72nd Ave., then merges with Southwest Marine Drive and continues southeasterly towards the Arthur Laing Bridge that leads to Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport.

History

19th century

The community was known as "Gastown" (Gassy's Town) after its first citizen - Jack Deighton, known as "Gassy" Jack. "To gas" is period English slang for "to boast and to exaggerate".[ citation needed ] In 1870, the community was laid out as the "township of Granville" but everybody called it Gastown. The name Granville honours Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville,[ citation needed ] who was British Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time of local settlement.

In 1886, it was incorporated as the city of Vancouver, named after Captain George Vancouver, who accompanied James Cook on his voyage to the West Coast and subsequently spent two years exploring and charting the West Coast.

20th century

Towards the middle of the twentieth century, the downtown portion of Granville Street had become a flourishing centre for entertainment, known for its cinemas (built along the "Theatre Row", from the Granville Bridge to where Granville Street intersects Robson Street), restaurants, clubs, the Vogue and Orpheum theatres, and, later, arcades, pizza parlours, pawn stores, pornography shops and strip clubs. [2]

By the late 1990s, Granville Street suffered gradual deterioration and many movie theatres, such as "The Plaza, Caprice, Paradise, [and] Granville Centre [...] have all closed for good", writes Dmitrios Otis in his article "The Last Peep Show." In the early 2000s, the news of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games, to be hosted in Whistler, a series of gentrification projects, still ongoing as of 2006, had caused the shutdown of many more businesses that had heretofore become landmarks of the street and of the city. [2]

21st century

Also, Otis writes that "once dominated by movie theatres, pinball arcades, and sex shops [Downtown Granville is being replaced] by nightclubs and bars, as [... it] transforms into a booze-based 'Entertainment District'." In April 2005, Capitol 6, a beloved 1920s-era movie theatre complex (built in 1921 and restored and reopened in 1977) closed its doors (Chapman). By August 2005, Movieland Arcade, located at 906 Granville Street became "the last home of authentic, 8 mm 'peep show' film booths in the world" (Otis). On July 7, 2005, the Granville Book Company, a popular and independently owned bookstore was forced to close (Tupper) due to the rising rents and regulations the city began imposing in the early 2000s in order to "clean up" the street by the 2010 Olympics and combat Vancouver's "No Fun City" image. (Note the "Fun City" red banners put up by the city on the lamp-posts in the pizza-shop photograph). Landlords have been unable to find replacement tenants for many of these closed locations; for example, the Granville Book Company site was still boarded up and vacant as of July 12, 2006.[ citation needed ]

While proponents of the Granville gentrification project in general (and the 2010 Olympics in specific) claim that the improvements made to the street will only benefit its residents, the customers frequenting the clubs and the remaining theatres and cinemas, maintain that the project is a temporary solution, since the closing down of the less "classy" businesses, and the build-up of Yaletown-style condominiums in their place, will not eliminate the unwanted pizzerias, corner-stores and pornography shops - and their patrons - but will simply displace them elsewhere (an issue reminiscent of the city's long-standing inability to solve the problems of the DTES).[ citation needed ]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Vancouver.

km [1] miDestinationsNotes
−0.5−0.31Ontario M502.svg Grant McConachie Way (to Arthur Laing Bridge) / SW Marine Drive – Vancouver International Airport Interchange
0.00.0 Southwest Marine Drive Granville Street southern terminus; roadway continues south
0.40.25BC-99.svgBritish Columbia G-050-5.svg West 70th Avenue (Hwy 99 south) Tsawwassen ferry terminal, Canada–United States border South end of Hwy 99 concurrency
1.60.99West 57th Avenue
2.41.5West 49th Avenue
3.22.0BC-99.svgBritish Columbia G-050-5.svg West 41st Avenue (Hwy 99 south) – Tsawwassen ferry terminal, Canada–United States borderAlternate Hwy 99 connection between Oak Street and Granville Street
4.12.5West 33rd Avenue
4.93.0King Edward Avenue
5.83.6West 16th Avenue
6.23.9West 12th Avenue
8.15.0BC-7.svg West Broadway (Hwy 7 east) Burnaby, Maple Ridge Hwy 7 western terminus
7.04.3West 4th Avenue, Fir StreetInterchange; West 4th Avenue is southbound exit and northbound entrance; Fir Street is southbound exit only
7.0–
7.9
4.3–
4.9
Granville Street Bridge over False Creek
7.9–
8.1
4.9–
5.0
BC-99.svgBritish Columbia G-050-5.svg Seymour Street, Howe Street (Hwy 99 north) / Pacific Street Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, Whistler Interchange; northbound Hwy 99 follows Seymour Street, southbound Hwy 99 follows Howe Street
8.45.2Davie Street
8.75.4Nelson StreetOne-way, southeast-bound; provides access to the Cambie Bridge
8.95.5Smithe StreetOne-way, northwest-bound; provides access from the Cambie Bridge
Ontario M506.svg Granville Mall south end (transit only)
9.15.7 Robson Street
9.35.8BC-99.svg Georgia Street (Hwy 99 north)Former Hwy 1A south / Hwy 99A; near Translinkcanada.svg   Vancouver City Centre station
9.45.8Dunsmuir StreetOne-way, northwest-bound; near Translinkexpo.svg   Granville station
9.66.0Pender Street
9.76.0Ontario M506.svg Granville Mall north end (transit only)
Hastings Street Former Hwy 7A
9.86.1Cordova StreetAcross from Translinkcanada.svg Translinkexpo.svg Translinkseabus.svg Translinkwce.svg   Waterfront station
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Cultural references

References and further reading

Current issues

History

Listings and tour guides

Searchable resources

Citations

  1. 1 2 Google (July 28, 2021). "Granville Street (Vancouver)" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Atkin, John (2003). "Vancouver Neon!". Discover Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 4, 2003. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
KML is from Wikidata

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastown</span> Neighbourhood in Vancouver, Canada

Gastown is the original settlement that became the core of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and a national historic site and a neighbourhood in the northwest section of the Downtown Eastside, adjacent to Downtown Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Columbia Electric Railway</span>

The British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) was an historic railway which operated in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Originally the parent company for, and later a division of, BC Electric Company, the BCER assumed control of existing streetcar and interurban lines in southwestern British Columbia in 1897, and operated the electric railway systems in the region until the last interurban service was discontinued in 1958. During and after the streetcar era, BC Electric also ran bus and trolleybus systems in Greater Vancouver and bus service in Greater Victoria; these systems subsequently became part of BC Transit, and the routes in Greater Vancouver eventually came under the control of TransLink. Trolley buses still run in the City of Vancouver with one line extending into Burnaby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambie Street</span> Street in Vancouver, Canada

Cambie Street is a street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named for Henry John Cambie, chief surveyor of the Canadian Pacific Railway's western division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerrisdale</span> Neighborhood in Vancouver, BC, Canada

Kerrisdale is a neighbourhood in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">98 B-Line</span> Former express bus service in Metro Vancouver, Canada

The 98 B-Line was a bus rapid transit line in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It linked Richmond to Downtown Vancouver, with a connection to Vancouver International Airport. It travelled mainly along Granville Street in Vancouver and a dedicated bus lane on No. 3 Road in Richmond. It was operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company and was funded by TransLink. The route was 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long. The line carried over 18,000 passengers daily. It was discontinued on September 7, 2009, two and a half weeks after the opening of the Canada Line, which replaced it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marpole</span> Neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Marpole, originally a Musqueam village named c̓əsnaʔəm, is a mostly residential neighbourhood of 23,832 in 2011, located on the southern edge of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, immediately northeast of Vancouver International Airport, and is approximately bordered by Angus Drive to the west, 57th Avenue to the north, Ontario Street to the east and the Fraser River to the south. It has undergone many changes in the 20th century, with the influx of traffic and development associated with the construction of the Oak Street Bridge and the Arthur Laing Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Vancouver</span> Neighbourhood of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada

Downtown Vancouver is the central business district and the city centre neighbourhood of Vancouver, Canada, on the northwestern shore of the Burrard Peninsula in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. It occupies most of the north shore of the False Creek inlet, which cuts into the Burrard Peninsula creating the Downtown Peninsula, where the West End neighbourhood and Stanley Park are also located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Drive station</span> Metro Vancouver SkyTrain station

Marine Drive is an elevated station on the Canada Line of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. The station is located at the intersection of Cambie Street and SW Marine Drive in Vancouver, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver City Centre station</span> Metro Vancouver SkyTrain station

Vancouver City Centre is an underground station on the Canada Line of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. The station is located on Granville Street, between West Georgia Street and Robson Street in Downtown Vancouver, and serves the shopping and entertainment districts along Granville and Robson streets, and the office and shopping complexes of Pacific Centre and Vancouver Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Street</span> Canadian urban road in Vancouver and Burnaby

Georgia Street is an east–west street in the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Its section in Downtown Vancouver, designated West Georgia Street, serves as one of the primary streets for the financial and central business districts, and is the major transportation corridor connecting downtown Vancouver with the North Shore by way of the Lions Gate Bridge. The remainder of the street, known as East Georgia Street between Main Street and Boundary Road and simply Georgia Street within Burnaby, is more residential in character, and is discontinuous at several points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings Street (Vancouver)</span>

Hastings Street is one of the most important east-west traffic corridors in the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and used to be a part of the decommissioned Highway 7A. In the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, it is known as West Hastings Street; at Carrall Street it becomes East Hastings Street and runs eastwards through East Vancouver and Burnaby. In Burnaby, there is no east-west designation. The street ends in Westridge, a neighbourhood at the foot of Burnaby Mountain where it joins the recently built Burnaby Mountain Parkway and diverges from the continuation of the former Highway 7A as the Barnet Highway, to Port Moody, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Street (Vancouver)</span> Major road in Vancouver, British Columbia

Main Street is a major north–south thoroughfare bisecting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It runs from Waterfront Road by Burrard Inlet in the north, to Kent Avenue alongside the north arm of the Fraser River in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Street (Vancouver)</span> Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Oak Street is a major north-south street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The street begins in the north at an intersection with 6th Avenue in the Fairview neighbourhood and continues to the Oak Street Bridge in the south, leading towards Richmond. There is a small portion west of the bridge that is in the industrial area of Vancouver along the Fraser River From its intersection with 70th Avenue southwards, the route is a component section of Highway 99, except for the aforementioned industrial section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granville Entertainment District</span> Neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The Granville Entertainment District is a neighbourhood in Downtown Vancouver known for its vast assortment of bars, danceclubs, restaurants, nightlife, and urban adult oriented shops and entertainment. The entertainment district centred on a seven-block stretch of the Granville Mall and surrounding streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R4 41st Ave</span> Express bus service in Metro Vancouver, Canada

The R4 41st Ave is an express bus route with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Part of TransLink's RapidBus network, it replaced the 43 Express that travelled along 41st Avenue, a major east–west route that connects the University of British Columbia (UBC) to the SkyTrain system's Oakridge–41st Avenue station on the Canada Line and Joyce–Collingwood station on the Expo Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R5 Hastings St</span> Express bus service in Metro Vancouver, Canada

The R5 Hastings St is an express bus service with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Part of TransLink's RapidBus network, it travels along Hastings Street, a major east–west route, and connects Simon Fraser University to the SkyTrain system's Burrard station on the Expo Line in Downtown Vancouver. It replaced the 95 B-Line route on January 6, 2020.

This is a timeline of the history of Vancouver.

Granville was the name from 1870 to 1886 for what would become the townsite of Vancouver, British Columbia. The townsite included the original settlement of Gastown.

Marine Drive is the name for three major roadways in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The roads are known for running parallel to major bodies of water, with some sections being a major arterial road, while other serve local traffic. Marine Way is the name applied to a section of Marine Drive that was bypassed in the early 1980s.