Vancouver Yaletown - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Located alongside the False Creek water's edge,the late 1970s and 1980s when the onset of Expo86
Yaletown is one of downtown Vancouver's mostand a handful of young urban entrepreneurs saw
stylish districts. Known as a popular spot for thosepotential in the old warehouses and cobblestone
seeking hip and unique shopping options or a classystreets. They found the area as a convenient, cheap
evening away, Yaletown is definitely the hotspot in theand attractive location for offices, restaurants, trendy
heart of the city. Find out here about the history of thisnightclubs and lounges and stylish residences. This was
blooming downtown quarter, what it is like today andthe starting point of the transformation of the
prospects for its future.warehouse district of Yaletown to what it is today.
Yaletown YesterdayYaletown Today
Similar to many other regions of Vancouver,Today Yaletown is not only a booming commercial
Yaletown's beginning was formed by the arrival of thedistrict with a mix of offices, high-end restaurants, cozy
Canadian Pacific Railway in 1887. In fact, the areacafes and stylish boutiques; it is also home to a large
acquired its name when the railway shifted itsurban community containing an elementary school
construction equipment and restoration shops from(Elsie Roy Elementary School) and community centre
Yale in the Fraser Canyon to the CPR's western(Roundhouse Community Centre). The region is a
finishing point in Vancouver. Over the following twentymixture of old and new; it has developed immensely
years, Yaletown saw a surge of sawmills and shinglewith an array of glassy high rise apartments and
mills situated on the north side of False Creek.fashionable town homes, yet it still stays true to its
In the early 1900s, the area transformed into aheritage with the red-brick warehouses still in place.
majoring industrial zone, a region that was aThe Roundhouse Community Centre was in fact once
convenient and inexpensive spot for the processing,the location of the western terminus of the Canadian
repackaging and warehousing of goods.Pacific Railway, today it still houses Engine 374, the
When Vancouver constructed its first city plan in thefirst passenger train to come into Vancouver in 1887.
1920s, Yaletown was zoned for business and minorThe area is constantly full of activity, many residents
industrial use. However, many of the warehouses thatand visitors relax and take ease at Cooper's or
employed the region moved closer to the highwaysHelmcken Park or grocery shop at Urban Fare.
where truck trailer transportation was much moreYaletown's seawall attracts a mixture of walkers,
convenient. In the 1950s, a majority of homeownersjoggers, roller-bladders, cyclists and canine companions.
sold their properties to factories and shops therebyResidents of Yaletown generally include young
closing down the Central School at Dunsmuir andprofessionals between 20 and 40, affluent penthouse
Cambie.settlers and families.
Yaletown was nothing more than barren space until