The Lower Lonsdale neighbourood in the City of North Vancouver is undergoing a significant transformation. This former home to ship-building and other maritime pursuits, once the civic centre of North Vancouver, was infamous in recent decades for its mix of seedy bars and small-town crime.
However, a healthy shot of economic revitalization and gentrification has given Lower Lonsdale new life. Its seaside setting, at the gateway to the North Shore Mountains and a short passenger ferry ride to downtown Vancouver, has bolstered its popularity during the Lower Mainland's recent real estate boom.
Some of the most important projects for Lower Lonsdale:
1. Addition of a new SeaBus to move foot passengers between Lonsdale Quay and Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver
2. Residential, office and hotel developments as part of "The Pier" project on Esplanade Avenue
3. Potential establishment of "National Maritime Museum" at the foot of the Lonsdale Pier
4. Improvements to Lonsdale Quay Market, including additional retail tenants
5. New retail tenants for Lonsdale Avenue: Burgoo, The District Social Club, Rain City Coffee, Waves, Royal Bank, Bella Candela, etc.
6. North Shore Seawall, part of 2010 Legacies, that will link Lower Lonsdale (as the midpoint) to, ultimately, Horseshoe Bay and Deep Cove
7. The refurbished Streetcar 153, with a planned east-west route to run along the waterfront (starting near Lonsdale Quay)
8. New public marina at Mosquito Creek
With all of this being said, there's still a legacy of the North Shore maritime industry (including the site of the BC Fast Ferries, and Cates Tugboats plying the waters of Burrard Inlet), and some of the area watering holes and pubs still do a brisk business.
The new Pier tower, backdropped by the old shipyards on Burrard Inlet:
Queen Mary Elementary School:
Lonsdale at 2nd Street:
Another North Shore heritage site -- St. Edmunds Church:
Hopefully we can track ongoing developments in Lower Lonsdale on this thread...
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