Vancouver: City council is looking at closing a portion of the historic Gastown neighbourhood to vehicle traffic as part of a pilot program.
Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung says she plans to introduce a motion on May 9 for a more pedestrian-friendly Gastown that includes shutting down Water Street to car traffic on weekends.
The plan also includes immediate patching repairs to Water Street’s battered cobblestone surfaces as well as a study into changing Cordova Street into a two-way street.
Gastown is one of Vancouver’s top tourist areas and has suffered in recent years due to the pandemic and the spread of homelessness and social crisis in the neighbouring Downtown Eastside. — Canadian Press