Introduction to West End

This area is fully of many tourist sites such as the world-famous Stanley Park, English Bay Beach and downtown. This neighbourhood is a dynamic and densely populated community and is full of activity during the day and night. Its major shopping area is Robson Street that is filled with upscale boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants and trendy clothing stores. Another popular shopping area is Denman Street where there are inexpensive dining, funky shops, movie theatres, the local library and community centre. West End is home to office workers of downtown businesses and of car-less Vancouverites.

The first settler was John Morton who was a potter by trade. He moved to this area from New Westminster because of the coal and clay deposits. In 1859, a survey ship found coal on the shore of Burrard inlet, near the foot of Bute Street but never mined it. Morton and two partners then claimed it and established a brick making operation. At the edge of Alexandra Park at English Bay, is a marble drinking fountain that is named "Fortes." It honours Joe Fortes, Vancouver's first lifeguard and an early pioneer. Fortes was famous for teaching generations of children how to swim and being at English Bay Beach from the 1890s until his death in 1922. The Catholic Church, in 1894, established St. Paul's Hospital at the end of Burrard Street trail "way out in the bush."

History & Heritage

In the 1890s, West End was an area of forest that was logged. It was sparsely settled and was far from the old Granville Townsite, known today as Gastown. There were Grand Victorian homes that were built for the upper-income families. Later, West End's prestige declined when the Canadian Pacific Railway developed the Shaughnessy neighborhood. Following this, the second stage of the community began. Apartments were built and the homes along Robson, Denman and Davie Streets, which were all streetcar lined, were converted to shops and the larger homes became rooming houses. Georgia Street used to be called Blueblood Alley.

The first apartments of the West End were built along Robson Street, on which the streetcar line ran along. The Manhattan that is located at the corner of Robson and Thurlow Streets is designed by well-known architects Parr and Fee. Until 1956, previous city buildings regulations limited masonry buildings to six floors and wood frame buildings to three floors. In the 1930s and 1940s, the third wave of apartment development began. The designs were of low-rise structures with impressive Art Deco and tudor-inspired facades for the purpose of giving the community an impression of permanence and respectability. By 1950s the fourth wave of redevelopment began in response to technological advances and zoning changes. This brought in cheaper and better multi-storey construction. Between 1962 and 1975, majority of the 220 high-rises were built.

West End's heritage is of very few houses and buildings. The people who mostly lived in this area were railway executives. The few houses that remained are designs of Queen Anne, Edwardian, or Arts-and-Crafts styled homes. One example is the Gabriola, built in 1900-1901, is the last of the community's truly grand mansions. It is considered the most lavish private home ever constructed in BC. The owner of this house was the founder of BC Sugar. The home was saved from demolition and, in the mid 1970s, it was restored and ever since, series of restaurants have occupied it. It is located at the northwest corner of Davie and Nicola Streets.

The Barclay Heritage Square is a blend of restored heritage houses and park space. It is one city block, bounded by Nicola, Barclay, Broughton and Haro Streets. Within it is the Roedde House that was built in 1892-1893 with Queen Anne tower and porch. It is now operated as a historic house museum. Other houses within the block are the Barclay manor and the Weeks House, and six other late Victorian homes that were converted to 18 subsidized dwelling units.

Built in 1912-1914, the Kensington Place, on Nicola Street, is an example of apartment living in the urban West End at the turn of the century. Its architectural design is Second Renaissance Revival Style.