Strathcona is one of this city’s earliest neighbourhoods. It features beautifully restored row houses, overflowing flower gardens, and welcoming front porches.
Strathcona grew out of the collection of shacks and small buildings that surrounded the Hastings Mill site, and has a unique mix of people, history, land use, and architecture.
It is a neighbourhood of houses, apartment buildings, and rooming houses where neighbours walk to the corner store, do tai chi in the parks or stroll in the community garden. It is a community that has managed to survive, and thrive, despite constant pressure for change.
By Vladimir Menkov – Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Living in Strathcona
Strathcona is one of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods, thanks to it’s proximity to the rail station, Gastown and the Ports. Given it’s age, many of the houses sitting in Strathcona’s boundaries are designated heritage houses and the City of Vancouver has instilled specific zoning regulations in the neighbourhood to maintain the character feel of the area. These zoning restrictions include restrictions on the look of the exterior, restrictions on the usage and restrictions on the footprint of the house. Strathcona also has some interesting types of homes – everything from large character houses to detached strata developments, Edwardian Architecture to Early Vernacular to Vancouver Specials.
Strathcona Postal Code:
V6A 3Z9
Strathcona Geo Coordinates:
Lat: 49.2723123
Long: -123.0984905
Real Estate in Strathcona has increased along with the rest of the East Vancouver market, and for good reason: it’s a very neighbour-ly area of the city that’s walking distance to Chinatown, Gastown, Main St, Commercial Drive, Yaletown and the Seawall with classic homes to boot. Lot sizes in Strathcona are smaller than average at 25′ x 122′ (typical lots of 33′ wide). Houses in the neighbourhood can range from over $1-million for something that needs a full reno, to upwards of $1.8-million for a renewed character house. Some houses in the neighbourhood ere built in the 1800’s, which can pose interesting challenges with floor plans. Many houses are multiple levels (some of which are on hills) which can offer mountain views from the top floor.
By Vladimir Menkov – Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Things to do in Strathcona
Strathcona has Vancouver’s oldest elementary school in Lord Strathcona Elementary as well as Admiral Seymour Elementary. Parks in the neighbourhood include Maclean Park and Strathcona Park, a large park with baseball diamonds and playgrounds.
There are a couple really interesting food and drink stops amongst the houses:
– The Wilder Snail, a great cafe
– Benny’s Market, a small grocer with a charcuterie section, fresh cookies (if you’re lucky to be there when they come out of the oven),
– Finch’s Market, for great sandwiches and coffee
– The Heatley, a new restaurant and bar with live music and weekend brunch
– Union Food Market, for coffee, baked goods and groceries
Directions to Ian Tan Art Gallery Vancouver