Vancouver
In Vancouver, gentrification has been most abundant across the Downtown Eastside (DTES), where a combination of historical context, real estate speculation, and rising property prices have displaced long-standing lower-income residents. The DTES is one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods, and throughout the early 1900’s supported a transportation hub and vibrant shopping district along the now-notorious Hastings Street. Numerous hotels were constructed for commercial travelers and tourists, and were later filled with newly immigrated families and single men working industrial jobs.
In the mid 1950’s, the transportation that had been bringing thousands of visitors to the DTES closed or ceased operation, and public government funding to the area stalled. Simultaneously, sub-areas such as Gastown and Chinatown redeveloped the industrial transportation warehouses and factories that had previously been the sources of employment for residents of the DTES. Factories were replaced by a series of upscale lofts, restaurants, and expensive shopping boutiques. As Vancouver’s population and reputation expanded, these neighbourhoods experienced a significant increase in value, attracting interest from foreign investors and fueling real estate speculation. Those who could afford the increasingly expensive prices moved in, and displaced previous residents who could no longer afford to remain. This is a trend that has persisted and worsened throughout the 2000’s.
An image depicting a value-map of the increase in land value across vancouver. It varies from a 57.7% increase, up to 315% land value increase. The median land value across Vancouver has undergone a 223% increase in the years between 2006-2016. The increase is most concentrated within the downtown core.
The City of Vancouver’s Council has responded by releasing a series of plans, strategies, and targets aimed at addressing displacement and other consequences of gentrification.
Adopted initially in 2017, the Housing Vancouver Strategy delegated the steps Vancouver would take to increase rental affordability and family housing opportunities. The strategy included 10-year housing approval targets (2017-2026) and a 3-year action plan. The plan focused on addressing the impact of speculation within Vancouver’s housing market, which was driving up prices and worsening the impacts of gentrification. After seven years of implementation and arguable success, Vancouver City Council revised the plan to introduce updated housing targets and a new 3-year action plan (2024-2026). The revised framework was built upon the foundation of the original strategy, but was updated to focus on addressing the city’s shifting economic realities. Currently, City Council’s priorities are to create housing opportunities that can accomodate for the economically diverse population of Vancouver. You can read more about the broad goals of the Housing Vancouver Strategy in ‣.
Approved by City Council in 2014, the Downtown Eastside Plan aims to offer strategies for the DTES to improve the lives of low income-residents and strengthen the community. The plan was developed in collaboration with local organizations such as the DTES Neighbourhood Council, the Building Community Society, and the Planning Committee. Throughout the curation of the plan, DTES residents, businesses, and community groups were consulted and invited to provide insight for the plan. Implementation of the DTES Plan involves partnership with senior government and ongoing oversight by the Vancouver City Council, which monitors, evaluates, and updates the DTES Plan every three years. Key initiatives include grants to support local non-profit organizations, such as the $649,700 in matching grants approved in June 2024.