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A profile of Vancouver West
This area of Vancouver covers some of the most attractive real estate in the world. With the revitalized downtown core, the multi-million dollar homes in Shaughnessy and Point Grey and the fashionable restaurants and shops of Kitsilano, Vancouver West delivers on the promise of the west coast lifestyle.
Real Estate
In the last few years Vancouver’s property prices have been rising steadily. The prices have rebounded after the recent world financial crisis, perhaps driven by Vancouver's reputation as a liveable city. Certainly Vancouver remains one of the most popular destinations for international immigration.
The regeneration of the downtown core has seen the development of a number of new condo’s. Downtown is not just a financial and shopping destination, it is a place where many people choose to live. We can anticipate that development will continue as long as there is anywhere left to redevelop!
If you are interested in buying in this area (or anywhere in BC) please use our buyer's agency form to tell so that we can help you find the right area and the right home. Our local experts are available here and for most other areas.
The extension of the skytrain via the Canada Line, linking downtown Vancouver, Richmond and the Airport, has had a positive impact on transit and property prices.
Below is a table showing the Benchmark prices for typical property in Vancouver West. This comes from the Vancouver Real Estate Board’s monthly statistics.
| Benchmark Prices: Vancouver West as at September 2012 | |||
| Category | Benchmark $ | 1 Yr Change | 3 Yr Change |
| Attached | $672,400 | -1.30% | 9.10% |
| Detached | $2,088,700 | -6.50% | 37.20% |
| Apartment | $465,600 | -1.20% | 3.30% |
| Source:Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver - MLS ® | |||
The section below gives a brief sketch of the main areas and provides statistics on property sales within these areas.
Coal Harbour
This area adjoins Stanley Park to the West and runs North of Georgia Street. It has views North across the Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver. The area is made up almost exclusively of apartments. The area is expensive and attracts older residents who appreciate it’s relative quiet and proximity to downtown.
Downtown
This area cover the area north of False Creek, east to Main St and west to Burrard. The downtown population has tripled in the last ten years as the downtown core undergoes a renaissance with the development of new condominiums.
The former garment district, Yaletown, has been transformed into an upscale shopping and residential neighbourhood, featuring converted warehouses with offices, boutiques, lofts and trendy restaurants and bars. The area attracts young urban professionals.
Downtown’s property consists of condos and apartments, varying widely in price according to their location and views.
Kitsilano
Kits as it is known is the area that extends south of English Bay, west to Alma St, east to Burrard and south to 16th Ave. The beach is a popular spot in the summer. The shopping around 4th Ave and Broadway, and the many restaurants and chic shops suggest that Kits continues to be a fashionable place for young, fashion conscious and upwardly mobile Vancouverites.
The property in the area is a mix of low rise apartments, condos and older homes. There is a large rental market.
Point Grey
Point Grey is one of Vancouver’s most affluent neighbourhoods, including multi-million dollar homes with ocean views. The area extends west of Kitsilano, from Alma St to the University Endowment Lands to the west and borders the sands of Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach to the north.
The area is primarily one of detached houses, in quiet, tree-lined streets. It’s proximity to the beaches and UBC means it is appealing to affluent families with children.
Shaughnessy
This area is centered around Granville Street and is bordered on the east by Oak St and on the west by West Boulevard, to the north 16th Ave and 41st Ave to the south.
Shaughnessy’s origins are as an exclusive community for Canadian Pacific Railway executives (in 1909) and the area still retains its exclusivity. The area has large homes on it’s winding tree-lined streets.
The Van Dusen Gardens are a well-known attraction in the community.
West End
This area is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland. It is located between Stanley Park to the west and English Bay to the south, with Vancouver’s business district making it’s eastern boundary at Burrard Street and Georgia Street to the north.
Robson Street, a popular shopping destination for both visitors and locals, is within the area, as is Denman Street with it’s more relaxed and informal feel. This area is popular with Vancouver’s gay community and is the site for the annual Gay Pride parade each August.
Real estate in this neighbourhood is largely older low and high rise apartments. The popularity of this area, with it’s lively local scene, proximity to the downtown business district and Stanley Park, means that rental vacancy rates are very low.
Schools
Vancouver’s public schools are managed by the Vancouver School Board, and are divided into three areas: North, Centre and South. Each school has its own catchment area and belongs to a family of schools so that elementary schools and annexes feed into a particular secondary school.
| Top Secondary Schools in Vancouver by Fraser Institute Rank | ||
| School | Rank in B.C. | Score (out of 10) |
| York House | 1 | 10 |
| West Point Grey | 2 | 10 |
| Little Flower | 3 | 10 |
| Crofton House | 4 | 10 |
| St George's | 6 | 10 |
| University Hill | 10 | 9 |
| Vancouver College | 18 | 8 |
| King David | 18 | 8 |
| Lord Byng | 25 | 8 |
| St John's | 28 | 8 |
| Source: Fraser Institute 2011 | ||
The board manages:
- 18 secondary schools
- 76 elementary schools
- 15 elementary annexes
[Also see our article on transferring into school.]
The school board’s web site has information on all the schools in the district. Most individual schools also have their own web sites. If you are interested in a particular school, then it is a good idea to contact them to arrange a visit.
If you are interested in independent schools then the Federation of Independent School Associations has a directory of schools. You will need to contact schools directly. In Vancouver West there are a number of independent schools.
- Vancouver School Board
- Elementary Schools
- Elementary School Annexes
(usually kindergarten to grade 3 or 4) - Secondary Schools
- School catchment areas
download the map from the above link
- Federation of Independent School Associations
- École Saint Sacrement (3020 Heather Street)
French immersion - Century High School (300-1788 West Broadway)
- Columbia College (500 - 555 Seymour Street)
- Crofton House School (3200 West 41st Avenue)
- Fraser Academy (2294 West 10th Avenue)
- Immaculate Conception School (3745 West 28th Avenue)
- Madrona School (101 - 910 West 6th Avenue)
- North Creek Montessori School (#108-1500 Howe Street)
no web site - e-mail or call 604 687 6701 - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary (2550 Camosun St)
- St. Andrew’s Elementary (450 East 47th Avenue)
- St. Augustine’s School (2145 West 8th Avenue)
- St. Francis Xavier (428 Great Northern Way)
- St. George’s School (4175 West 29th Avenue)
- St. John’s International School (938 West 8th Avenue)
- St. John’s School (2215 West 10th Avenue)
- St. Patrick’s Elementary School (2850 Quebec Street)
- St. Patrick’s Regional Secondary School (115 East 11th Avenue)
- Vancouver College (5400 Cartier Street)
- Vancouver Hebrew Academy (1545 West 62nd Avenue)
- Vancouver Montessori School (8650 Barnard Street)
No web site - call 604 261 0315 - Vancouver Talmud Torah (998 West 26th Avenue)
- West Point Grey Academy (4125 West 8th Avenue)
- Westside Christian School (5210 University Boulevard)
- York House School (4176 Alexandra Street)
- École Saint Sacrement (3020 Heather Street)
Other Links
