City Council approves 20-year plan to revitalize Granville Street
Phased plan to transform and revitalize downtown Granville into safer, more vibrant destination
Today, Vancouver City Council approved, with amendments, the Granville Street Plan to guide the transformation of the historic entertainment district into a safer, welcoming and vibrant destination.
“This plan marks the beginning of Granville Street’s next chapter,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “It’s about creating a vibrant, fun space and supporting the local businesses, restaurants, and venues that bring it to life. Granville has long been an iconic part of our downtown core, and we’re committed to making it thrive again.”
In 2023, City Council voted in support of launching the Granville Street Planning Program to revitalize the area and position it as a major cultural and economic destination once again—supporting jobs, tourism, and local businesses.
“Granville has always been a place where people gather—for music, nightlife and community gatherings. This plan helps us honour that legacy while addressing the real challenges the street faces today,” said Josh White, General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability. “We’re creating a path to revitalize the district in a way that’s inclusive, vibrant and future-focused.”
Developed through engagement
The Granville Street Plan was shaped by a multi-year engagement process with input from local businesses, residents, community organizations, equity-denied groups, service providers, and the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
City staff shared the proposed directions for the plan with the public in early 2025 and received strong support for its overall vision and key moves. The plan also aligns with the Vancouver Plan, and the role of the Metro Core as the principal centre of urban employment, living, arts and culture, tourism and entertainment activity for the city and region.
Vision for future development
The plan guides change in the area through three priority directions:
- Defining three distinct character areas to support different types of activity, development and public space. This will include an:
- Entertainment Core: A dynamic destination focused on arts, culture, nightlife, outdoor performances, and hospitality venues.
- City Centre: A lively civic and commercial hub with new mixed-use residential developments, anchored by a central destination public plaza for gatherings and events.
- Bridgehead: A quieter mixed-use area that connects Granville Street with nearby neighbourhoods and allows for new residential developments alongside commercial and cultural spaces.
- Creating a year-round destination public space and pedestrian-only zone featuring day and night programming, amenities, and unique design features. This will start with seasonal pedestrianization and expand overtime as other changes and street improvements progress.
- Transit improvements to support pedestrianization of the street as buses are re-routed to Seymour and Howe Streets. This requires strong transit priority measures to support transit access and reliability.
Implementation and safety improvements
The Granville Street Plan will be implemented through a flexible and adaptable phased approach. Enhanced public safety and community well-being are key to revitalizing the area, and Granville Street Plan considers safety improvements at every step, prioritizing programs that support gender-based violence prevention and overall safety.
Change in the area will be supported by a District Management Plan, developed in collaboration with partners to address the area’s evolving needs including enhanced services, safety initiatives and coordinated programming.
In the near term, implementation will include zoning updates, pedestrian zone pilots, early transit improvements on Granville and Howe and Seymour streets, and initial work to advance District Management. In the long term, the plan will guide major redevelopment, expanded cultural spaces, and the full pedestrianization of the corridor – creating a safer, more inclusive, and vibrant destination for all.
For more information about the Granville Street Plan, please visit: council.vancouver.ca/20250604/documents/pspc1.pdf PDF file (27.3 MB)
Additional quotes:
“Good Night Out Vancouver is encouraged to see Council support a plan with such a significant focus on gender-based violence in Vancouver’s entertainment district. Nightlife can only thrive when the safety of all women and marginalized genders in the area after dark is prioritized — it creates greater access, builds community connections and keeps patrons and workers coming back. We are looking forward to supporting the evolution of Granville Street into a space where safety, inclusion, and enjoyment go hand in hand.”
- Stacey Forrester, Education Director, Good Night Out Vancouver
“Granville Street is more than an entertainment district—it’s one of Vancouver’s most iconic corridors. It connects neighbourhoods, generations, and cultures. For decades, it has been a magnet for shoppers and restaurants goers, and a gathering place for everything from live music and nightlife to parades, protests, and civic celebrations. Destination Vancouver fully supports this vision and the role it will play in strengthening our city’s appeal to locals and visitors.”
- Royce Chwin, President & CEO, Destination Vancouver
"Today's milestone brings us to the starting line for real investment and transformation on Granville Street. It gives everyone a clear roadmap for how best to work together towards ensuring our iconic street is the vibrant destination we all know it can be. We're excited about the opportunities ahead, but we also need to move quickly on the immediate safety and street improvements needed to sustain existing businesses as this vision comes to life."
- Jane Talbot, President & CEO, Downtown Van
“Today’s announcement is welcome news for the businesses on and around Granville Street, including the members of Hospitality Vancouver Association (HVA). The contents of this report indicate an acknowledgement of the important role of Granville Street as the Entertainment District of our city and indicate a renewed focus on ensuring the street achieves its full potential. On behalf of our members, I want to thank staff for their work on this project to date, and City Council for this demonstration of confidence in a renewed and enhanced Granville Street and Entertainment District.”
- Nate Sabine, Director of Business Development, Blueprint