Introduction to Fairview

In the last few decades, Fairview has changed from an industrial area facing False Creek, to a family-oriented, inner-city neighbourhood, which offers living along the waterfront in the heart of the city.

It extents from Burrard Street to Cambie Street, and from 16th Avenue to False Creek. It includes the neighbourhoods of False Creek, Fairview Slopes, Burrard Slopes and Fairview Heights.

The residents of Fairview are just a walk away from several of Vancouver's most popular shopping destinations: South Granville and Granville Island. South Granville offers stylish, upscale shopping, art galleries, antiques, restaurants and coffee shops. To the north, the old warehouses and factories that once lined False Creek have been altered into Granville Island, the area's heart and soul. Granville Island is an energetic, lively combination of shops, theatres, studios and the public market.

History & Heritage

False Creek and the Fairview Slopes area were a forest of huge fir trees less than 100 years ago. The CPR Land Commissioner L.A. Hamilton named Fairview in 1886. Hamilton's survey established the numbered system of east-west avenues and named the cross streets after trees.

In 1887, the CPR agreed to locate its Pacific terminal yards on the north side of the Creek. Shipbuilding yards, sawmills, shingle mills, and various woodworking plants replaced the forest. In 1916 Granville Island was created from soil dredged from False Creek.

In 1928, the CPR and the provincial government swapped land to give each consolidated holdings, the CPR on the north side and the province on the south side. Another land swap took place in 1968 where the City acquired land from the province and prepared the way for the present residential and recreational development and marked the beginning of another change.

Fairview Slopes, which overlooks False Creek from the south, began to develop following the opening of the Granville and Cambie Street bridges and the construction of the Fairview Beltline, a streetcar loop built from downtown through Fairview and Broadway. In 1902, the City purchased 5.5 acres from the CPR for $5,500 for a new hospital at 10th Avenue and Heather Street. Land was in demand for residential development during these years and a number or substantive homes were built in the area.

From the early 1920's to the early 1960's, Fairview Slopes was zoned for 3-storey apartments. Throughout the 1950's, the area south of Broadway developed as an apartment district. Broadway, Granville and Cambie Streets became significant neighbourhood commercial strips. At the same time, the Slopes were rezoned to industrial use, and some houses were replaced with small industries.

The 1970's were a time of drastic change for both False Creek and Fairview Slopes. In 1973 the City Council adopted policies, which laid out guidelines for redeveloping False Creek based on the recommendations by citizens, two advisory review panels, and City staff. The new policy required a variety of housing to provide a social mix that reflected the City's income and social composition. The City also decided to keep ownership of most of South False Creek.

Plans to redevelop Granville Island were being considered at the same time as the planning for South False Creek. In 1972, administration for the 15-hectare island was transferred from the National Harbours Board to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and a movement to rejuvenate the site started to gain force. Early in 1976, the Granville Island Trust was formed to advise on the Island's future. The first phase of the Island's redevelopment, the Public Market, opened in 1979, soon followed by the Maritime Market, Emily Carr College of Art, theatres, artist's studios, craft galleries and restaurants.

Pressure arose to develop the Slopes for high density uses as the City's plans for False Creek took shape. The area was rezoned in 1972 from industrial to residential/commercial. Fairview Heights, a small fifteen-block area, which extended south of Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre (formerly Vancouver General Hospital), was rezoned in 1984 from a duplex to a low-rise apartment zone. Since then, the area has been extensively redeveloped providing additional housing opportunities for those employed in the downtown core and the Vancouver Hospital.

Hudson Manor is one of the oldest surviving houses in Fairview. It was built in 1894 for Vancouver Ice and Cold Storage Company founder Captain James Logan. The home was moved two blocks in 1974. Today, the city-owned building at 1254 West 7th Avenue is used for a meet place for non-profit societies.

The Seaforth Armoury on Burrard Street was built in 1935/1936 to house the Seaforth Highlander. Some of the hall's design features include steeped gables, round towers, cast thistle and finials.

Other notable heritage buildings include the James England House at 2300 Birch and the 1889 Fairview house at 1151 West 8th Avenue for Sir John and Lady Reid. The 1929 Dick Building and the Stanley Theatre are both local landmarks located on Granville Street. Close by the 1912 Chalmers United Church is located at 2801 Hemlock Street.

City Square Mall is an example of the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. In the case, the 1905 Model School and the 1908 Provincial Normal School were incorporated into a new shopping mall.