The Past, Present and Future of Vancouver’s Japantown

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Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: Vancouver Museum, 1100 Chestnut Street
Admission: $5.00; Heritage Vancouver Members free
No advance registration required. Doors open at 6:30pm

Join City of Vancouver Planner Hugh McLean for a conversation on the “Past, Present and Future of Vancouver’s Japantown.” Hugh will present interesting information on the evolution of the area, its historical and cultural significance and discuss where the process is heading.

Number ten on Heritage Vancouver’s 2007 Top Ten Endangered list, this neighbourhood, centred around the 300-400 blocks of Powell Street, was the heart of Vancouver’s Japanese community. Over the past two decades, the accelerating decline of the Downtown East Side has hit Japantown particularly hard. The years of neglect have taken their toll, businesses have moved from the area and there has been a noticeable deterioration of the building stock. Due to a lack of heritage incentives the rehabilitation of the buildings has been minimal. This is an opportunity to have a frank conversation regarding the future of this historic neighbourhood. The City of Vancouver issued a Request for Proposal in December 2007 for an Historical and Cultural Review of the Powell Street area known as Japantown.

Read the PDF presentation

Read the consultants report

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