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It may not be a surprise to anyone who has recently strolled down Denman, Commercial, or Broadway, but it is still useful, Vancouver councillors say, to learn that the research backs up what people are seeing: the number of vacant storefronts is growing in many Vancouver neighbourhoods.

City of Vancouver staff presented council on Tuesday with the findings of a recent study on small businesses, which found that in four of the six neighbourhoods examined, the proportion of vacant storefronts has grown past 10 per cent, considered an unhealthy vacancy rate. The most profound change was observed in South Granville, where the rate has increased five-fold, from two per cent storefront vacancies in 2006 to 11 per cent last year.

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It was also unsurprising that independent, small businesses struggled more than big chains. In five of the six neighbourhoods studied, the proportion of independent businesses decreased during the time period under review. Commercial Drive, for example, saw the proportion of chain businesses (defined as an organization with four or more outlets) grow from nine per cent in 2005 to 16 per cent last year, while independent businesses decreased by seven per cent over the same period.