Granville Street's downtown weekend closures for pedestrians start next week

Vancouver City Council has green-lighted the funding required to support the temporary closure of the Granville Entertainment District to vehicle traffic over summer weekends for pedestrians and activations.

A city staff report notes the two-block stretch of Granville Street between Smithe Street and Helmcken Street in downtown Vancouver will be closed over six consecutive weekends this summer, with the first weekend of this “Granville Street Promenade” now set for July 31 and August 1. The final dates will coincide with the Labour Day weekend.

It will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays only, with set-up starting at 8 am and tear-down complete by 10 pm. During this period, buses that normally travel on Granville Street will be rerouted to Howe and Seymour streets.

• See also:
  • City Council approves closing Granville Street in downtown for pedestrians this summer
  • “Restaurant row” part of new bold vision for a vibrant Granville Street in downtown
  • Opinion: This redevelopment is the key to revitalizing Granville Entertainment District
  • New vision for Gastown narrows roads for pedestrian spaces, relocates Steam Clock

The closure allows the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) to work with businesses on activating the street with seating, activations, live music, and the possibility of events as the summer progresses.

City council first approved the pilot project a month ago, and municipal funding to support the closure was approved last week.

The DVBIA will cover the costs of programming and managing the activations and events, while the municipal government will provide $102,500 from city council’s approved contingency fund for the fiscal cycle. The city’s funding will cover traffic control equipment, personnel, and policing costs.

The pilot project will be used to evaluate the feasibility of future temporary closures of the street for events and activations, and its findings will be used to plan for potential future permanent changes to the Granville Entertainment District to support its revitalization.

• See also:
  • City Council approves closing Granville Street in downtown for pedestrians this summer
  • “Restaurant row” part of new bold vision for a vibrant Granville Street in downtown
  • Opinion: This redevelopment is the key to revitalizing Granville Entertainment District
  • New vision for Gastown narrows roads for pedestrian spaces, relocates Steam Clock

Editor’s note: This article has been revised to reflect the change in dates.