General Overview

Strathcona, Vancouver's oldest residential community, stretches from Hastings Street to Great Northern Way, and from Main Street to Clark Drive. These boundaries as defined by the City for planning and administrative purposes may not reflect smaller historical neighbourhoods.

Strathcona is a unique mix of people, history, land use and architecture. It has managed to retain its identity over the last century despite ongoing pressures for change.

This area was previously included in a combined Strathcona-Downtown Eastside community profile. The intent of this new profile is to more accurately reflect the separate identity and character of Strathcona.

Strathcona was discovered in the mid-1980s by middle-income households seeking affordable housing close to the city centre, and a gentrification of the area began. Residents' concern over changes in their community's social fabric prompted the city council in 1989 to initiate a three-year local area planning program involving Strathcona and Kiwassa residents, property owners, service providers and business owners.

Strathcona is also the only area in Vancouver where English is not the most commonly-used mother tongue (the language one first learns and still understands). In 1991, 61% of all Strathcona residents listed Chinese as their mother tongue. English was the next most common first language, representing 24% of residents.

Strathcona has a mix of housing types in its various neighbourhoods - both market and non-market. This includes high- and low-rise apartments, row houses, converted houses, and rooming houses. Most residential development is between Gore Street and Clark Drive south of Hastings Street.

Since the early 1970s there has been a substantial amount of affordable, infill housing (co-operatives, townhouses and duplexes) on vacant lots. Over the last several years, redevelopment has occurred at a steady pace, and many new residents moving to the area are purchasing and renovating homes.

All residents are within walking distance (800 metres) of one of five area parks. Strathcona has 2.0 hectares of park land per 1,000 persons as compared to the city average of 1.12.

Strathcona Park located at Campbell Avenue and Prior Street.
The Strathcona community's largest park draws sports enthusiasts from across Vancouver to participate in field sports such as grass hockey, baseball, softball and soccer.

Strathcona Linear Park located at Hawks Avenue and Prior Street.
Installed in 1974 as part of Strathcona's revitalization, the park provides residents with a traffic free link between Strathcona and MacLean Parks.

Strathcona Community Garden located at Prior Street and Hawks Avenue.
Strathcona residents lovingly cultivate this 1.2 ha (3 acres) community garden while others help care for the Garden's apple orchard, herb garden, major composting depot and wildlife area where native species of plants and trees are grown.

MacLean located at Heatley and Hawks Avenues, East Georgia and Keefer Streets.
Named in 1912 after Vancouver's first mayor. Today, area seniors use this quiet spot for their daily tai chi practice.

Thornton located at Main Street & Terminal Avenue.
While largely ornamental in nature, the park is an important heritage asset. The park's landscape design and plant material is a good example of Western Canadian public garden design of the early 20th Century. As residential development intensifies in this part of Strathcona, Thornton Park will be much more actively used.

Related Links:
Strathcona City Profile
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/community_profiles/strathcona/

Vancouver School Board
http://www.vsb.bc.ca

Real Estate Agents working in Strathcona

Request a Realtor
Let us help you find a Realtor that specializes in your area.