A final report outlining an ambitious vision for the future of Granville Island contains some interesting proposals, including a pedestrian elevator to the Granville Street Bridge and an expanded public market.

The report was commissioned by the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) to guide the next 25 years of development on the island.

It identifies four major strategies: improving access; expanding the public market and creating a market district; embracing arts and innovation and restoring and sustaining the public realm.

Improving access

Build elevator from Granville Street Bridge to heart of Granville Island

Build new bridge across Alder Bay, connecting pedestrian and bike paths to Island

Increase ferry, transit, pedestrian and cycle access

Reduce dominance of private vehicle traffic and parking

Expand the Public Market and create a Market District

Expand and integrate Public Market with a new Market District

Showcase sustainable, local food production and processing

Expand independent businesses in non-food sector specializing in local design and manufacturing

Embrace arts and Innovation

Create arts and innovation hub to link art, design and technology

Build flexible performance space to showcase multimedia art and performance

Explore establishing First Nations’ cultural centre

Restore and sustain public realm

Create a central plaza at the heart of the Island

Naturalize south shore of Alder Bay

Promote environmental and urban sustainability

The proposed Granville Street Bridge Elevator is one of the most dramatic aspects of the vision.

Currently, the island is poorly served by transit, with just one bus route serving Granville Island. However, the Granville Street Bridge has a high frequency of bus service, with a city bus passing by every two minutes. The elevator would connect the island with this robust transit service across the bridge.

The bus stop on the bridge would be part of a future elevated cyclist and pedestrian greenway already proposed by the city as part of the Vancouver House condo project, which is currently under construction.

The report envisions the elevator and viewing platform as a tourist attraction.

“The elevator is conceived as a Vancouver icon – linking a rebuilt ground level public space with a future bus stop and greenway on the bridge above. Design concepts could also include a tower feature that would offer a spectacular viewing platform above the bridge. This additional attraction would draw new visitors to the city and Granville Island,” reads the report.

Vehicle traffic and parking, which occupies over a quarter of current land use, is singled out as a major issue facing Granville Island.

“These pressures threaten the freedom of movement across the entire public realm and the pedestrian-friendly character of the Island, and risk the further erosion of public space.”

Other ideas proposed in the report include appointing a “Nightlife Mayor” to encourage activity on the island beyond daylight hours, as well as the creation of a new Central Plaza area at the entrance of the island, with a landing area for the proposed pedestrian elevator.