Welcome to Kitsilano Real Estate. Kitsilano is one of Vancouver’s most beautiful neighbourhoods.
Kitsilano is bordered to the north by two beaches, Kitsilano Beach and Jericho Beach on the shores of English Bay and runs south to 16th Avenue. It is bordered in the east by Burrard Street and on the west by Alma Street. Home to fantastic shopping and numerous famous eateries, “Kits” also possesses a rich and colourful history; one that is reflected in the neighbourhood still today.
In the 1960s, beachside Kitsilano was Vancouver’s largely known for its hippy community. Today, Kitsilano still has plenty of culture, but its apartments and houses are now occupied by young urban professionals and families who enjoy a modern version of that relaxed atmosphere. Just over the Burrard Bridge from the downtown peninsula, the neighbourhood brings together a collection of attractions, beach and parks, residential streets, and a couple of main commercial districts. “Kits,” as it’s known locally, is bordered by the waterfront to the north and West 16th Ave to the south; Burrard Street to the east and Alma Street to the west. Most of the commercial activity is along West 4th Avenue and West Broadway, but you’ll also find shops and restaurants in the areas close to the beach.
Bayview Community Preschool
2251 Collingwood St, Vancouver, BC V6R 3L1
Bayview Community Preschool is a unique, licensed, nonprofit preschool that fosters a love of learning by following a play-based learning model. Where parents are welcomed and invited to share in, and support, their child’s first “school experience”.
General Gordon Elementary School
2891 W 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1Z5
Gordon School is a vibrant and active community of staff, students and families situated in the heart of Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood. Currently the school enrolls 19 Divisions with 420 students (we are classified as a full school) from kindergarten to Grade 7. The Grade 6/7 Late French Immersion program is being moved to Trafalgar and Douglas Elementary schools and therefore the 2021/2022 school year will be the last year for the Grade 7 French cohort. Our learners are quite diverse in their cultural, educational and life experiences.
Kitsilano Secondary School
2706 Trafalgar St, Vancouver, BC V6K 2J6
Kitsilano Secondary School teaching faculty and staff offer strong educational programs provided in a friendly, cooperative atmosphere. The staff reflects a broad range of educational backgrounds and teaching experiences and many of these professionals continuously upgrade their teaching credentials. They are dedicated to engaging students and supporting them to be their best in the classroom and in extracurricular activities such as fine arts, athletics, and service-oriented clubs.
Lord Tennyson Elementary School
2650 Maple St, Vancouver, BC V6J 2B2
Ecole Lord Tennyson Elementary is a single-track French Immersion choice program school. Families apply to the program in either Kindergarten or Grade 1, with students receiving 100% of their instruction in the French language from Kindergarten through Grade 3, and up to 80% French instruction from Grade 4 through Grade 7. For the 2020-21 school year, we are enrolling approximately 425 students and are anticipating a similar enrolment for 2021-2022.
Henry Hudson Elementary School
1551 Cypress St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3L3
Henry Hudson Elementary is located in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver on the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples – sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), selíຈlwitulh ( ຈ Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəyງəm (Musqueam) nations. Henry Hudson Elementary is located in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver. The school enrolls approximately 400 students and is a dual track French and English school. The School District has started a gradual phase out of the French Program as neighbourhood enrollment demands increase. The school has received approval from the Ministry of Education for a seismic school replacement. They are in the planning stages, projection to start construction is in 2022 and projected completion 2024
Connaught Park
2390 W 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 4K9
This lively park features plenty of space for recreational activities with a soccer field, rugby field, cricket pitch, and ice rink as well as play areas and a waterpark.
Volunteer Park
2855 Point Grey Rd, Vancouver, BC V6K 1A7
This quiet park is a great spot for neighbourhood locals to take a stroll down to the pebble beach and get serene views of English Bay.
Tatlow Park
2845 W 3rd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1M8
This park features three tennis courts, a playground, plenty of seating, and ample space, making this a great place to take a stroll by the stream, relax, or bring children to play.
Kitsilano Beach Park
1499 Arbutus St, Vancouver, BC V6J 5N2
This popular park boasts clean sand beaches, beautiful views of English Bay and downtown Vancouver. Visitors often visit to take a swim in the ocean or outdoor swimming pool, play a game of tennis, dine at the Boathouse Restaurant, or take a stroll along the seawall.
Vanier Park
1000 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9
This park features beautiful views of downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park and is decorated with ponds, open fields, and a wide pathway seawall for nice stroll on a sunny day. This park also features a nearby BMX park.
Seaforth Peace Park
1620 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3K1
This park is lined with ornamental trees, providing a contrast between the surrounding architecture as well as a quaint plaza that makes for a great spot to enjoy lunch.
Delamont Park
2091 W 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC
This park is a great spot for children to play as it features a large playground and green fields.
Jericho Beach Park
3941 Point Grey Rd, Vancouver, BC V6R 1B5
This park is a summertime favourite with its popular beach, sailing club, vast fields for recreational play, and food concession stand.
Vancouver Heritage Housing
In April 1983, City Council initiated a Heritage Conservation Program. Both Council and the Vancouver Heritage Commission (then known as the Heritage Advisory Committee) realized that a comprehensive management program was necessary to identify the city’s heritage resources, to develop incentives to assist in the conservation of those resources, and to create a greater awareness and understanding of our built heritage. There are three main components to the Heritage Program.
Vancouver Heritage Register
By the end of 1986, Vancouver’s centennial year, City Council adopted the Vancouver Heritage Register (then known as the Heritage Inventory) which included buildings, landscapes, monuments and archaeological sites that have heritage significance. A site does not have to be designated to be included on the Register. There are approximately 2,400 resources listed on the Register ranging from workers cottages and utilitarian warehouses to elaborately decorated mansions and commercial buildings. The Vancouver Heritage Register [pdf] is a valuable record of the development and change that has occurred in Vancouver’s history. Approximately 21% (about 500) sites are municipally designated [see the Heritage Bylaw].
Heritage Management Plan
The Heritage Management Plan includes a program of incentives and protective measures that are aimed at promoting the conservation of our heritage resources. Incentives such as zoning by-law, subdivision by-law and parking by-law relaxations, density bonuses and transfers, and permit fast tracking encourage the restoration and continued use of heritage buildings. Protective measures include designation, heritage revitalization agreements, heritage alteration permits, heritage inspections, impact assessments, temporary protection, the withholding of approvals and permits, heritage control periods and heritage site maintenance standards.
Public Education and Information Program
This aspect of the Heritage Conservation Program provides information to the public on heritage issues and appropriate conservation techniques. Initiatives such as the annual Heritage Awards which recognize efforts that further the goal of heritage conservation are also an important part of the Heritage Program. The Heritage Plaque Program identifies municipally designated heritage sites with a distinctive bronze plaque and serves to acknowledge conservation efforts of building owners. It also increases public awareness of our built heritage and of our history.
What is the Vancouver Heritage Register?
The Vancouver Heritage Register [PDF] is the cornerstone of the City’s Heritage program. Adopted in 1986 (then known as the Heritage Inventory), it is a policy and guideline document which includes approximately 2,150 buildings, and 131 landscapes, monuments and archaeological sites. To be included on the Register, sites must be identified as having heritage value and/or heritage character and be at least 20 years old. The Register is a planning tool which provides a valuable record of Vancouver’s heritage.
How Was the Heritage Register Completed and How Are Buildings Evaluated?
A comprehensive architectural survey of the city was completed by a study team that looked at every street in the City to identify notable buildings. This work, together with additional historical research on the buildings, was used to evaluate each building according to the following criteria: (1) architectural significance; (2) historical significance; (3) the extent to which the original context of the building and its surroundings remain; and (4) the degree of alteration to the exterior of the building.
To be included on the Heritage Register, a site is evaluated as outlined above, and in so doing it must be identified as having heritage value and/or heritage character. Heritage value means historical, cultural, aesthetic, scientific or educational worth. Heritage character means the overall effect produced by traits or features which give a property or an area its distinctive quality. There can be different degrees and kinds of value and character. A rare example of a once-common building type may be of considerable value in one neighbourhood over a similar building in another area where that building type is more prevalent.
What do the “A”, “B” and “C” Evaluation Categories Mean?
These categories are general classifications and are based on any combination of historic, architectural, cultural, spiritual, scientific or social values.
A – Primary Significance
Represents the best examples of a style or type of building; may be associated with a person or event of significance.
B – Significant
Represents good examples of a particular style or type, either individually or collectively; may have some documented historical or cultural significance in a neighbourhood.
C – Contextual or Character
Represents those buildings that contribute to the historic character of an area or streetscape, usually found in groupings of more than one building but may also be of individual importance.
While the category is a useful reference, the key is that whichever category a building is placed under, it has heritage value.
Can Registered Buildings be Altered or Demolished?
Does a Building’s “A”, “B” or “C” Category Affect How It Is Treated?
A building which is listed on the Heritage Register can be altered on the exterior. However, when considering alterations, the way in which the exterior is treated should not depend on whether it is an “A”, “B” or “C”. In other words, the heritage value of each building on the Heritage Register is formally recognized and the elements that define its character should be afforded the same level of respect. If a permit is required for the alteration, it will be referred to heritage staff for comments as part of the permit process.
Council’s “Heritage Polices and Guidelines” describe Council’s intent with respect to heritage properties listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register (VHR). Before a permit can be issued to demolish a building on the VHR, development and building permits for the new development must first be obtained. In this period staff would explore retention options with the applicant. Often applicants do not know all the options and incentives/bonuses which are applicable if a heritage building is retained. These can include floor area bonuses and relaxations in height, setbacks, parking, etc. Heritage incentives are meant to be used to successfully find alternatives to the demolition of heritage buildings to the satisfaction of both the property owner and the city.
In addition to the process described above, Council policy specifies that if a building is listed in the “A” category on the VHR and demolition is sought by the owner, then:
“Council has instructed that, prior to consideration of a proposal for the demolition of an “A” building, a formal independent consultant’s report on the physical condition and economic viability of retaining the building should be reviewed by the Director of Planning. The consultant’s report is to be carried out at the expense of the applicant.”
The Planning Department’s practice in this regard has been to advise Council of the demolition request for an “A” listed building and seek their advice. For all other buildings on the Vancouver Heritage Register, if the development application is “outright” with respect to use and regulation, and there is no voluntary interest in keeping the building by the owner (or prospective owner) then the heritage hold would be removed and the demolition application process would proceed. The process typically takes one to three weeks.
For applications that seek a “conditional” development with respect to use or regulation, (e.g. a single family dwelling containing a secondary suite) the City is under no obligation to approve an application that seeks the demolition of a building on the VHR. Instead, Council’s policy instructs staff to give special consideration through applying zoning incentives to applications that seek the retention of a resource on the Heritage Register. It can take one to six months to complete the permitting process to retain the heritage building, depending on the complexity of the site, development requested and the level of negotiation.
In addition to the procedures described above, the Vancouver Charter (sections 583 and 589) permits Council to delay the demolition approval of a building either on the Heritage Register or a building that “may be heritage property”, through temporary protection for a period of 120 days. During this time, a heritage inspection may be ordered (at the owners expense) to assess the heritage value of the site.
How are Sites Added to the Vancouver Heritage Register?
When the original Heritage Register was adopted in 1986, Council supported a public nomination program whereby sites would be nominated for addition to the Register. Public nominations are reviewed by heritage staff who prepare an evaluation form for the site. The evaluation is then reviewed by the Vancouver Heritage Commission. If the person nominating the building is not the owner, then consultation with the owner must occur to determine whether or not the owner is supportive of the nomination. Sites with sufficient heritage value or character are forwarded to Council for consideration in amending the Register. If approved, the site is added to the Register.