Central Lonsdale is a commercial main street at the centre of the City of North Vancouver. It is surrounded by a high-density residential neighbourhood, and also functions as a transportation corridor. Central Lonsdale Avenue has many positive attributes that make it a great street already, such as its diverse local businesses, walkable pedestrian scale, and striking views of the North Shore Mountains.
The project focus areas includes the Upper Levels Highway to the north, Victoria Park to the south, St. Georges Avenue to the east, and Chesterfield Avenue to the west.
The Lonsdale Great Street Project is a priority in Council’s Strategic Plan under the section “A Vibrant City” which states: “Reimagine, revitalize and repurpose Central Lonsdale Avenue as a ‘great street’ to support commercial activity, enhance esthetics, walkability, vibrancy and history”.
The Project will help revitalize Central Lonsdale, and grow and enhance the area from an economic development lens. The Project is intended to identify what the City can do in terms of policy, investment, collaboration and advocacy to create the right environment for existing and new businesses to thrive. It will also focus on serving the growing numbers of residents in the area now and into the future.
The Project considers: land use; urban design; business mix, attraction and retention; public realm and streetscape; above and below ground infrastructure; mobility; accessibility; sustainability; temporary activations / pilot projects; financial and other incentives; feasibility analysis; phasing and costing.
The Project will include a written Comprehensive Plan that is a strategic document that will guide the long-term development of Central Lonsdale. It will outline key objectives and directions for development to guide informed decision making over time, rather than providing a detailed blueprint for every project.
The project will be completed in three phases:
Phase 1 – Listen & Learn | Fall - Winter 2024
Study the area and provide opportunities for the community to share their vision for the future of Central Lonsdale.
Phase 2 – Develop Proposed Plan Directions | Summer - Winter 2025
Develop preliminary directions for the future of Central Lonsdale and share what has been learned from the public during Phase 1 engagement.
Phase 3 – Finalize the Plan | Spring 2026
Share the comprehensive plan with the community and City Council