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Granville Island's Renaissance: A New Beginning
Time ticks away. A few visionary individuals gather in their bare feet, sensing the deep-rooted character of the Island’s ancient past. A “people’s place” is mentioned, not too defined, yet with character; fluid, diverse and flexible. They envision a place that nurtures a variety of human endeavours, respecting the need for innovation and evolution, yet rooted in the stability and integrity of the traditions of the past.
Two men had a seedling of an idea and grabbed the opportunity as they saw it laid out before them. Mitch Taylor and Bill Harvey were the first of the ‘Barefoot Gang’. They envisioned an inspiring and varied environment, from a marina and restaurant to an architect’s office, even an art studio and gallery. Liberal minister Ron Basford became known as ‘Mr. Granville Island’, taking the Island’s redevelopment to a new standard for mixed-use communities and urban renewal initiatives.
Developers, builders and many other visionaries such as architects Norm Hotson and Joost Bakker, turned the tide of Granville Island toward an aesthetically pleasing destination for a wide variety of people with diverse interests. With a restaurant and theatre newly opened, the Island became popular among the hipsters and artists of 1970’s Vancouver. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) took ownership in 1975, and the redevelopment of Granville Island started to gain momentum.
A Template for Urban Renewal
Many decisions were carefully considered, and slowly the Island came back to life, this time with colour and vibrancy. Planners introduced green space while tin-clad buildings and their huge doors were painted in bright colours, uplifting and highlighting the industrial heritage of the Island. A progressive lease rate program encouraged an eclectic mixture of tenants, allowing non-profit organizations to stand alongside fine dining restaurants, individual artisans and even a cement plant.
Independent food stands at the Public Market, an educational institution and a community center were all carefully chosen to reflect the diverse and unique character that the Island was developing. The goal was to bring in visitors all year round from early in the morning when the bakeries opened to late at night when the last bar closed.
The Granville Island Business and Community Association (GIBCA) was formed in 1994 with a mandate to promote community projects, ensuring all visitors have a positive and uplifting experience on the Island.
As the waters of False Creek become clear again over a 10-year clean up, small schools of fish begin to reappear, coming home to their old sandbar. The clean water brings fish and the fish bring birds. On the eastern side of the Island, a heron swoops down from its perch next to a small boat building shop and dives into the water nearby. A woman gazes out of her studio window to watch. A community is growing and being nurtured here once again.
Photos courtesy of Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects
- Design team taking a break: Norman Hotson, Jim Jarvis, Joanna Earthrowl and Greg Ball.
- Clippings from the discontinued “Granville Island News”, 1977.
