Downtown Eastside Revitalization: Strategies & Initiatives

DTES Revitalization

DTES Home

Strategies & Initiatives

Neighbourhoods
• Chinatown
• Gastown
• Victory Square
• Strathcona
• Oppenheimer/Japantown

Downtown Eastside
Crime Prevention/Community Development Project

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Strategies & Initiatives

The City's Downtown Eastside Revitalization Program involves a number of different initiatives and different partners. However, no matter what the initiative, the philosophy is the same: that is, the belief that there are no simple solutions to the challenges facing this neighbourhood; that governments and community must work together to address the issues; and that everyone has the same ultimate goal -- to ensure this neighbourhood is a livable, safe and viable community for all.

The Vancouver Agreement

The Vancouver Agreement is a commitment by the federal government, the province of B.C., and the City of Vancouver to work together to support sustainable economic, social and community development in Vancouver. Although the agreement affects the entire city, the initial focus of work is in the Downtown Eastside.

Great Beginnings: Old Streets, New Pride

British Columbia is 150 years old. To celebrate, an initiative called Great Beginnings was created by the city and funded by provincial government. Over three years from 2008 to 2011, $10 million will be given to celebrate the history, heritage and culture of Vancouver’s first urban areas. Gastown, Chinatown, Japantown and Strathcona – often referred to collectively as the Downtown Eastside – are on the list for improvements. This is a unique opportunity to create a legacy in the area of improved physical, social, and economic conditions.

Great Beginnings work is being coordinated with activities underway in the City’s DTES Revitalization Program, Project Civil City, the Vancouver Agreement and the 2010 Winter Games Inner-city Inclusivity Commitments made by VANOC and the three levels of government.

Housing for the Downtown Eastside

The Housing Plan for the Downtown Eastside was adopted by Council on September 22, 2005. The plan presents a vision for the future of housing in Chinatown, the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District, Gastown, the Hastings Corridor, the Industrial Lands, Strathcona, Thornton Park and Victory Square. It addresses specific housing types: SROs, social housing, market housing, supportive housing and special needs residential facilities. See below for additional information on housing for the DTES.

Woodward's Building

One of the most important and symbolic projects that aim to further the revitalization efforts is the redevelopment of the Woodward's building.

Prompted by community activism, the Woodward's site will be redeveloped into a mixed-use complex that includes market and non-market housing, retail, community amenity space, a public atrium, space for non-profit organizations, plus the SFU School for the Contemporary Arts.

Carrall Street Greenway

The Carrall Street Greenway is a major public realm, community building and economic revitalization initiative.

The route will link north False Creek with the Burrard Inlet, completing a seawall loop around Downtown and Stanley Park, and connecting a series of parks, plazas and historic sites in Gastown, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and Chinatown.

This project has received significant support from the public and private sectors as well as the local communities. The City of Vancouver provided funding for the Carrall Street Greenway. As well, the Vancouver Agreement partners and Bell Canada have committed funding to the project as part of the Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization Plan

A Framework for Action

Vancouver's four-pillar approach to solving the city's drug problems. View the publication -- A Framework for Action -- that outlines the strategy. Visit the Four Pillars website.