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May 30, 2006
Fraser is the New Main
So says the Georgia Straight in their recent GS Living magazine.
That’s an overstatement, but Fraser Street between East 25th and 41st avenues is feeling less like its somewhat gamy old self. The cause: well-off, highly motivated buyers who missed out on the Main Street corridor are snapping up character homes here and pushing the boundaries of the West Side farther east.
Georgia Straight Living: Neighbourhood watch
Publish Date: 25-May-2006
The average price of a residential property in the Lower Mainland cracked $500,000 in April, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Where are the hot bargains, the screaming deals, the hidden gems? We’re not exactly sure. But we do know that some neighbourhoods are less outrageously priced than others—at least for the value they offer. Stabbing eastward, the Georgia Straight spoke with three realtors who live in or near three such sought-after areas. The usual disclaimer: every home described in this story may be sold by now.
Fraser Is the New Main
That’s an overstatement, but Fraser Street between East 25th and 41st avenues is feeling less like its somewhat gamy old self. The cause: well-off, highly motivated buyers who missed out on the Main Street corridor are snapping up character homes here and pushing the boundaries of the West Side farther east. Because of the neighbourhood’s elevation, some of these places offer views of the mountains and downtown.
Who lives there: The Fraser area is unabashedly multicultural—a true reflection of Vancouver’s ethnic makeup. To pull an example from food, the other universal language, just south of 25th there’s a block of largely Filipino shops, bakeries, and restaurants. They’re surrounded by a bewildering array of establishments serving and selling many more cuisines: Polish, Indian, Vietnamese, Sichuan, dim sum, Chinese beef-and-pork jerky. What about those forces of gentrification? Realtor Robert W. Bruinsma thinks they’re a good thing. “It’s always been family-oriented, but [now] it’s a much nicer neighbourhood generally,” he says.
Strengths: Centrally located, Fraser is close to the Canada Line rapid-transit route on Cambie Street. It will also benefit from the 2010 Olympics curling venue planned for Hillcrest Park next to Nat Bailey Stadium; after the Games, the building will be transformed into a community recreation centre that includes a rink and a library. East of Fraser at 37th Avenue, expansive Kensington Park has a community centre, and there’s no shortage of elementary schools.
Weaknesses: Like its neighbour Main, Fraser is too wide to foster the dramatic street life you see on a narrower strip like Commercial Drive. And for the time being, anyway, it can’t compete with Main Street’s sheer number of shops and services. Then again, they’re practically next door.
Sample restaurant: South Indian meets Sri Lankan at the affordable Noor Mahal (4354 Fraser Street, 604-873-9263).
Recent detached-home offering: Five-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,021-square-foot character house with mountain views (built 1911) on a 32’ by 106’ lot, 462 Aubrey Place; asking price $638,000. Contact: Robert W. Bruinsma, Multiple Realty Ltd., 604-872-1640, www.multiplerealty.com/.
Recent attached-home offering: Three-bedroom, one-bathroom, 1,104-square-foot third-floor condo with mountain views (built 1995), 310–4838 Fraser Street; asking price $315,000. Contact: Elizabeth Ren, Royal Pacific Realty, 604-318-2318, www.royalpacific.com/.
Posted by Mike Klassen at 11:32 AM |
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