Ken Stef

False Creek North

False Creek North (FCN) lies along the northern shore of False Creek, from the Burrard Street Bridge to Main Street on Vancouver's Downtown Peninsula. For this description, it includes the lands forming the eastern portion of False Creek.

Before 1986, False Creek, like most of Vancouver's waterfront, was a focus of heavy industry and the supporting railways. Sawmills and factories surrounded this water basin. In a startling transformation, virtually all of the industry moved out to be temporarily replaced by the Expo 86 World's Fair. After the World's Fair closed, the lands were sold to private developers and rezoned. Redevelopment has been proceeding ever since. Much of the planned development around False Creek is built out, including most of the former Expo lands, now Concord Pacific Place, and the CityGate developement to the East.

The transformation of some 80 hectares (204 acres) of inner city area has taken place over a twenty year period and has changed Vancouver's downtown skyline as well as its waterfront public realm. It has brought a long lost body of water back into public use. FCN is one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in North America, and has created a diversity of new urban experiences.

Three distinct False Creek communities are discussed, beginning with Granville Slopes to the west, Concord Pacific Place at the centre, and CityGate to the east.

Granville Slopes

Granville Slopes is a 10 block area located between the Burrard and Granville Bridges, sloping down from Pacific Avenue to the False Creek waterfront.

Concord Pacific Place

The former Expo 86 site included some 67 hectares (166 acres) of land, stretching along the north shore of False Creek between the Granville Bridge and Quebec Street, and north as far as Beatty and Pender Streets. This mile long stretch of land essentially defines the southeastern edge of Vancouver's downtown peninsula, from Pender Street in the north to Beach Avenue in the south. The land was sold by the Government to Concord Pacific and underwent several rezonings to permit comprehensive, mixed use, high density development.

Today, the following are features, amenities, and people scapes that exist in this exciting community:

• roofdecks are used as outdoor living rooms
• townhouses fron the waterfront walkway/bikeway
• non-market housing (Roundhouse Co-op) blends seamlessly into the neighbourhood
• David Lam Park, at the centre of the community fronting onto the water, is a playground that serves residents of surrounding communities
• Marinaside Crescent and its luxury waterfront townhomes
• "Yaletown Mews" (non-profit rental housing) with its private coutyard on Pacific Boulevard
• Roundhouse and Quayside waterfront from the Davie Street public pier
• The "Lookout" public art installation on Marinaside Crescent
• Beatty street was closed to create Beatty Mews and a public plaza
• Shopping on Davie Street
• Families with children are moving downtown
• Semi-private gardens provide respite and an attractive overview
• Sidewalk cafes animate Marinaside Crescent
• Marinaside Crescent, lined with townhouses and now matured landscape, has achieved intended domesticity
• Cyclists and pedestrians crowd the False Creek North waterfront
• Roundhouse Community Centre

CityGate

CityGate is a pioneering high density neighbourhood developement (approximately 9.2 acres in size) located at the eastern end of False Creek, at the interface between downtown Vancouver and the eastern inner city suburbs. It is separated from the Concord lands by a large strethc of open space which is becoming a major waterfront park. To the immediate east lies historic Main Street, beyond which are the under-utilized railway yards and the industrial lands of False Creek Flats. The site also forms a transition zone between Chinatown to the north and Mount Pleasant to the south.

To view the available listings for sale in False Creek North, click here.

To view properties currently for sale at specific addresses, click on the building name below.