West End commercial streets

Davie Village is a place that brings people together, hosts diverse businesses, welcomes visitors and plays a significant role for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Through 2023 engagement, we heard support for wider sidewalks, space to stroll, improved patios, healthier trees and a better transit experience on Davie St (between Burrard St and Jervis St).

Check out our draft design for Davie Street that:

• provides more space to stroll
• supports local businesses
• creates a more welcoming and vibrant street

Get involved!

Learn more about the project by:

• Taking our survey
• Attending an open house event:
  • Barclay Manor - 1447 Barclay St: Friday, February 23, 1:30-3:30 pm
  • Gordon Neighbourhood House - 1019 Broughton St: Saturday, February 24, 1:30-3:30 pm
  • Matchstick Cafe - 1305 Davie St: Tuesday, February 27, 5:30-7:30 pm
• Visiting our interactive webpage

Your feedback is important to help us understand if this design gets the balance right, and can support changing community and business needs.

Let us know what you think by Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Davie Village: Espacio para la gente

Estamos explorando cambios en los espacios públicos y de tránsito peatonal como parte de nuestro compromiso de poner en práctica el Plan de la Comunidad de West End. Los posibles cambios están destinados a mejorar la accesibilidad peatonal, fortalecer la vida pública y apoyar a las empresas locales.

En 2023, solicitamos la opinión de las empresas y del público sobre las calles comerciales de West End y ahora estamos empezando a implementar lo que escuchamos durante el proceso, empezando por Davie Village. Nos enteramos del gran interés que existe en mejorar la experiencia de caminar y usar el transporte público, a la vez que se tienen en cuenta las necesidades de los vehículos locales en las calles comerciales de West End. En Davie Village, hubo un amplio apoyo en favor de aceras más anchas, espacio para pasear, terrazas mejoradas, árboles más sanos y una mejora del transporte público.

Davie Street es una importante calle comercial. Ofrece oportunidades para que los lugareños y los visitantes compren, trabajen y disfruten en el West End. Estamos considerando cambios en las aceras y en el espacio vial a lo largo de la calle Davie, entre las calles Burrard y Jervis. Estos cambios podrían contribuir a que Davie Village funcione mejor para las empresas, los residentes y los visitantes.

Davie Village: فضایی برای مردم

در راستای بخشی از وظایف خود در اجرای طرح "جامعه محلی West End"، ما در جستجوی ایجاد تغییر در فضای پیاده روی وعمومی هستیم. هدف این تغییرات بالقوه بهبود قابلیت پیاده‌روی در این منطقه، تقویت زندگی عمومی وحمایت از کسب‌وکارهای محلی است.

در سال ۲۰۲۳، کسب‌وکارها و عموم مردم در خیابان‌‌های تجاریWest End را با این طرح آشنا کردیم و اکنون می خواهیم آنچه را که در طول این فرایند شنیده ایم به اجرا در آوریم و از Davie Village آغاز می‌کنیم.

شنیده ها حاکی از اشتیاق بسیار در خصوص بهبود تجربه حمل‌ونقل و پیاده‌روی و در عین حال نیاز به تردد خودروهای محلی در خیابان‌های تجاری West End بود و حمایت گسترده‌ای برای ایجاد پیاده‌روهای وسیع‌تر، فضایی برای قدم زدن، بهبود فضاهای باز تجاری (patios)، با وجود درختان شاداب‌تر و تجربه حمل‌ونقل بهتر در Davie Village، شد.

خيابان Davie یک خیابان‌ مهم تجاری است. این خیابان در West End، به محلی‌ها و بازدیدکنندگان فرصت خرید، کار و بازی می‌دهد. در نظر داریم درطول خیابان Davie، بین خیابان‌های Burrard و Jervis، در فضای پیاده‌رو و سواره‌ تغییراتی ایجاد کنیم. این تغییرات به بهبود شرایط کسب‌وکارها، ساکنان و بازدیدکنندگان در Davie Village کمک شایانی خواهد کرد.

Most of the 403 respondents to the West End commercial streets survey provided feedback on Davie Village.

We heard that Davie Village’s community feel is loved by many. Reponses included references to:

• Its unique restaurants, stores and bars
• The distinct sense of place
• Its reputation for inclusivity and diversity

There’s a strong desire for places to sit and socialize:

• Make space to spend time with public seating
• Create more room to dine outside on patios

Walking and transit should be prioritized:

• Make space to stroll with wider sidewalks and mid-block crossings
• Make transit more reliable with faster and more frequent buses

We also heard that cleanliness and public safety are a concern to some.

Read the Davie Village report (PDF, 1MB) for more information.

We heard from West End residents and the business community in our 2023 public engagement on West End commercial streets (Davie, Robson and Denman). The engagement saw:

• 405 surveys completed
• 498 visitors at four pop-up community events, shared with Bute Greenway phase 2 (External Link)
• 29 Ideas received via Shape Your City
• 1,767 responses to open-ended survey questions

We heard that transportation opportunities should:

• Prioritize space for people through wider sidewalks and safer crossing opportunities
• Make transit more reliable and comfortable
• Improve active transportation

Public space opportunities should:

• Make more space for public seating and dining
• Add new trees and rainwater management features, with near-unanimous support for “greening”
• Celebrate what the commercial streets have to offer, focusing on what makes each one special

We also heard that changes should support local businesses and customers. Public spaces should be kept clean, well-loved and desirable over the long term.

For more information on what we heard, read the executive summary (PDF, 2MB) or read the full report (PDF, 7MB).

We are exploring walking and public space changes as part of our commitment to deliver on the West End Community Plan. Potential changes aim to improve walkability, strengthen public life and support local businesses.

The West End commercial streets are vibrant centres for locals and visitors to shop, work and play. In line with the Community Plan, we are directing investment towards these commercial streets, to support them as distinctive destinations. In Spring 2023, we gathered feedback from community members and businesses about key priorities for these streets.

We are connecting with the West End Business Improvement Association (WEBIA), Davie Village businesses, and other stakeholders throughout spring and summer 2023.

We will provide updates on our progress in Davie Village and information on how to get involved into 2024.

Other planning projects in the coming years will explore potential changes in Robson and Denman villages.

Visit our interactive webpage to find out more about these and other walking and public space priorities.

If you are unable to provide feedback using our survey, you can email us your feedback at westendplan@vancouver.ca.

Paper copies of the surveys are available at these community locations:

• West End Community Centre, 870 Denman Street
• Gordon Neighbourhood House, 1019 Broughton Street
• Vancouver Aquatic Centre, 1050 Beach Avenue

How to submit a copy?

• Drop-off the paper survey at one of the community locations mentioned above.
• Scan and email to us at westendplan@vancouver.ca.
• Mail us a paper copy at:

Community Transportation Branch, Engineering Services – City of Vancouver

507 W Broadway #5

Vancouver

BC V5Z 0B4

(also listed on the last page of the survey)

Investment in transportation and public space is needed to help us:

• create people-first streets,
• support local businesses,
• facilitate public life,
• encourage more trips by active transportation and transit,

Changes on West End commercial streets are being implemented as part of the West End Community Plan and are also aligned with recent City policies:

Places for People: Downtown Public Space Strategy (2020): “Design streets, sidewalks and walkways to encourage a walking and rolling culture.”

Climate Emergency Action Plan (2020): Two-thirds of trips in Vancouver to be by active transportation and transit by 2030.

Vancouver Plan (2022): “Create people-first streets by transforming road space to support population growth and the changing needs of residents and businesses.”

Come and join us at one of our pop-up engagement events to discuss our plans for the West End commercial streets and ask questions. These events will be shared with the Bute Greenway project:

• Nelson Park, Wednesday April 5, 4 pm to 6 pm
• Bute-Robson Plaza, Saturday April 15, 11 am to 1 pm
• Jim Deva Plaza, Saturday April 15, 4 pm to 6 pm

We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your ideas for the West End commercial streets.