All About Yaletown, Vancouver’s Favourite Neighborhood
The district of Yaletown has a very colorful and unique history that has its roots in the Gold Rush and mining as well as the Canadian Pacific Railway. During the 1880s the town of Yale, located in British Columbia’s interior, was the epicenter of all Gold mining activity in the province. It was also the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. When the line was extended to the Burrard Inlet, the railworker population of Yale followed and settled in housing close to the new rail yards. This area was given the name Yaletown.
Yaletown remained an industrial and warehouse until after the 1986 World’s Fair, when it went though a substantial process of gentrification. Currently it remains one of the most ambitious and successful urban rejuvenation projects in North America.
Although Yaletown’s skyline has the contemporary “City of Glass” look to it, the area has not forgotten its industrial past. Many of the warehouses and rail yards have been transformed into trendy restaurants and nightclubs. This gentrification, the mixture of contemporary and refurbished, has given the area a very unique look and feel. Demographically, Yaletown is young and educated. During the dot-com bubble many IT and dot-com companies set up shop in the area, creating what some called a “Silicon Alley”. The median age is 37 and the majority of the population have completed some form of post-secondary education. In Yaletown the average price of a home is close to $600,000 and the average income is nearly $71,000.
Yaletown is home to the high end whether it be dining or shopping. The area has become somewhat of a mecca for foodies, and many fine restaurants have opened up shop within the neighborhood. If fine dining is the order of the evening there is Opus Bar or Provence Marinaside. For travelers on a smaller budget, but still want exceptional atmosphere and cuisine there are a variety of gastro pubs such as Dix BBQ and Brewery, Library Square Public House, and The Shark Club Bar and Grill.
In regards to shopping Yaletown is home to many unique boutiques and shops. Any shopping trip through the neighborhood would not be complete without a stop at places like the Atomic Model Botique for the latest in high fashion jewelry and accessories. The Eden Boutique has a similar theme, though it specializes in imports from the UK and Europe. If you are a bookworm and shopping for clothing is not what you had in mind check out the Book Warehouse on Homer St.
If you have a four legged friend with you on the trip or at home, there are a number of stores for Fido in the area. Both Barking Babies and Dog and Hydrant offer a selection of trendy accessories for the canine companion.
And if it isn’t shopping that you are after there is still plenty to do in Yaletown. Many tourists flock to the Seawall, which is a pleasant walking trail that runs parallel to the shore. Yaletown is also within walking distance to GM Place, and BC Place, the home of the Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions respectively, if you want to take in a game during their seasons.
Yaletown is very conveniently located, by virtue that it is located along the southern tip of the Burrard inlet. Taking the skytrain it is possible to get from Yaletown to the Financial District, Gastown, or anywhere else in Downtown Vancouver in a number of minutes.
