This is the plan to transform Gastown's streets for pedestrians and events, starting with a $25-million overhaul of Maple Tree Square

The City of Vancouver is preparing to embark on a significant long-term transformation of the historic Gastown district in downtown Vancouver, with reimagined public spaces that change how the area feels and functions.

This week, during a public meeting, Vancouver City Council is expected to approve the Gastown Public Spaces Plan, created following a planning process initiated in 2023, as well as two summer seasons of car-free, pedestrian-oriented pilot projects on Water Street –including interim repairs to the street’s dilapidated brick pavers — and a trial of two-way traffic on the area’s segment of West Cordova Street, which was previously a one-way, eastbound-only street.

Those earlier car-free trials proved highly controversial for businesses in the area, which reported significant financial losses — particularly in Summer 2024, when the municipal government implemented months-long closures of major roadway segments for road construction and to test the pedestrian street concept. For the Summer 2025 season, the trial returned as a Sunday-only closure in response to feedback from the 2024 pilot.

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This newly crated plan aims to transform Gastown — especially Water Street — into a vibrant, inviting, and pedestrian-friendly destination that attracts more locals and tourists, while supporting the district’s businesses through enhanced public spaces and other strategies that drive foot traffic and encourage additional restaurants, cafes, and active retail uses. It will also help foster nightlife and improve safety.

There is a desire to improve pedestrian access and circulation and to create strategies that draw people east of the iconic Gastown Steam Clock, located at the intersection of Water Street and Cambie Street, toward Maple Tree Square — situated two blocks further east at the unique intersection of Water, Alexander, Carrall, and Powell Streets — as well as Trounce Alley and Blood Alley Square, which is currently undergoing construction to enhance the public space.

Rather than fully pedestrianizing Water Street, this plan retains regular vehicle access by implementing a new flexible permanent design that allows for car-free configurations on Water Street on certain days and times, including an expansion of Sunday pedestrian zones — making it a regular occurrence — and during public events and festivals.

A key issue with the current temporary car-free configurations is the high operating cost, often due to labour requirements. Instead, the City will consider new design measures that enable easier street closures, such as installing retractable bollards that can emerge from the ground to restrict vehicle access at strategic entry points into the district.

Estimated cost of up to $25 million for the first project of overhauling Maple Tree Square

The very first major project under the plan will be the complete redesign of Maple Tree Square, which is envisioned as the new heart of Gastown’s public life. The square is expected to become a central gathering place capable of hosting a wide range of activities, from daily social interactions to large-scale events.

Plans for Maple Tree Square include integrating Indigenous cultural elements, expanding seating and patio areas, and creating a flexible layout that can adapt to different uses.

The project of overhauling Maple Tree Square alone is currently estimated to cost between $20 million and $25 million, with City staff now looking to begin the early part of the detailed design work.

Over time, Carrall Street between Maple Tree Square and West Cordova Street is envisioned to become a lively restaurant row — building on its existing concentration of restaurants with patios.

Existing condition of Maple Tree Square:

Future condition of Maple Tree Square:

New “gateways” and redesigning Water Street

Beyond the core of Maple Tree Square, the plan envisions enhancing Gastown’s entrances from both the east and west.

An eastern gateway will be created at the intersection of Powell Street and Columbia Street, where the narrowing of Powell Street for vehicles will signal the transition into the pedestrian-friendly zone. This gateway is bisected diagonally by the former Canadian Pacific Railway right-of-way, where there is also a proposal to build a 13-storey building with 100 per cent hotel uses, including a destination rooftop restaurant attraction on the top floor offering panoramic views of the harbour and mountains. The hotel concept positions itself as an opportunity to help establish an eastern gateway into Gastown.

Attention will also be provided for the western gateway at the intersection of Water, West Cordova, and Richards streets, including widening the north sidewalk of West Cordova Street to improve the pedestrian connections from Waterfront Station, and the installation of a new First Nations cultural landmark at the triangular-shaped corner of the intersection.

Existing condition of the eastern gateway:

Future condition of the eastern gateway:

Existing condition of the western gateway:

Future condition of the western gateway:

Between the focal points of Maple Tree Square and the gateways, Water Street’s standard design will change significantly. The roadway will be narrowed to a single westbound vehicle lane to allow for wider pedestrian sidewalks and a dedicated cycling route. Curbside vehicle parking will be largely removed, though flexible zones will be retained in designated areas to accommodate the loading needs of businesses.

Street trees deemed to be in poor health will be replaced, and new street furniture and public art will be installed, along with improvements to street lighting.

Gastown derives much of its heritage character not only from its historic buildings, but also from the iconic red pavers on its sidewalks and roadways, which are now deteriorating.

This surface of red pavers will be completely replaced with higher-quality materials to improve durability and reduce maintenance needs, such as granite blocks, concrete unit pavers, and/or clay bricks. The district’s red brick pavers were originally installed in the 1970s as part of a public space revitalization project.

Existing condition of Water Street:

Future condition of Water Street:

Making two-way West Cordova Street permanent

Transportation is another key focus of the plan, particularly the relationship between Water Street and Cordova Street. To reduce pressure on Water Street, improve overall circulation, and reduce the wear-and-tear on the pavers, the City is exploring the possibility of making West Cordova Street a permanent two-way route.

In May 2025, a seven-block-long stretch of West Cordova Street between the intersection of Richards/Water Street and Gore Avenue became a two-way route on a temporary basis for a pilot project. Under the plan, this segment of West Cordova Street will not revert into a one-way, eastbound-only street.

Existing condition of West Cordova Street:

Future condition of West Cordova Street:

In addition to physical redesigns of the streets, the plan places significant emphasis on improving the overall experience of Gastown through enhanced services and operations. Public consultation revealed that issues such as cleanliness, safety, and maintenance are central to how people perceive and use the district.

As a result, the City is looking to strengthen sanitation services, expand access to public washrooms, and work more closely with community partners — especially the Gastown Business Improvement Society — to ensure that public spaces are well-managed and welcoming. These operational improvements are seen as essential to supporting the success of any physical changes and to fostering a sense of stewardship and care in the struggling district.

To create this plan that will be implemented over many years, City staff worked with key contracted consultants entailing the Vancouver office of architectural and civil engineering firm Stantec, Vancouver-based landscape architectural firm Hapa Collaborative, and Copenhagen-based urban design firm Gehl Studio.

Currently, some of Gastown’s vibrancy is hindered by the major construction work for Marcon Developments’ new mixed-use residential and commercial development at the large mid-block property of 131 Water St., replacing the Gaslight Square complex. It is expected to reach completion later in 2027.

As well, the prominent property at the southwest corner of the intersection of Water Street and Abbott Street has been left vacant since April 2022, when a deadly fire destroyed the Winters Hotel SRO — operated by Atira Women’s Resource Society — and The Flying Pig’s Gastown restaurant location. Four years after the incident, there are still no redevelopment plans for the site.

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