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future of gastown includes car-free sundays, maple tree square overhaul
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car-free sundays are set to return to water street in gastown this summer after the success of last year’s test, says a report going to vancouver city council this week.
the water street pedestrian zone will return on sundays between early july and early september, one of a number of steps in a long-term plan to revitalize the old downtown vancouver neighbourhood.
the gastown public spaces plan envisions a “people-focused” gastown with a “multimodal design” for water street and maple tree square.
the report outlines other actions, including a $20 million to $25 million overhaul of maple tree square at the junction of water, carrall and powell streets, a potential extension of two-way traffic on cordova street to the powell street overpass, and the “regularization” of the sunday pedestrian zone on water street.
the proposal follows two summer pilots that temporarily removed or reduced vehicle traffic on water street, gastown’s main thoroughfare — trials that garnered popular support but also drew opposition from businesses.
many retailers and businesses along water street reported dramatic decreases in sales and foot traffic after the city turned three blocks of water street into a pedestrian-only zone in july and august 2024.
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based on the feedback, the city adjusted its plan in 2025, closing water street to traffic only on sundays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
according to the report, sunday pedestrian volumes increased by 19 per cent last year compared to weekend numbers in 2024. businesses also seem to favour the sunday-only pedestrian zone, with 81 per cent of respondents in 2025 saying they wanted the car-free zone to return, compared to 59 per cent in 2024.
a $20 million to $25 million plan to overhaul maple tree square is proposed as part of the plan.
jason payne
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the report identified maple tree square changes as a “first priority project” in a bid to transform the underutilized square into a more flexible space that could host car-free and pedestrian-only events, and enabling it to draw locals and tourists past the steam clock, a popular attraction, further into gastown including powell and alexander streets, trounce alley and blood alley square.
if approved, staff would work with the gastown business improvement society, other businesses and residents on design decisions and construction impacts.
staff will also work with the sḵwx̱wú7mesh úxwumixw first nation on establishing a cultural kiosk at the square, which would tell the nation’s story through information boards installed on a sculptural feature. the kiosk was identified as a project after the removal of the gassy jack statue from the square in 2022.
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the report also recommends conducting studies and engagement with businesses and translink on about extending two-way traffic on cordova street past gore to the powell street overpass.
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