Gastown goes car-free again, but only on Sundays

Water Street in Gastown will be closed to vehicle traffic from Richards to Columbia Street every Sunday from now until August.

Water Street in Gastown will be a pedestrian-only corridor each Sunday until the end of August.

The project is a collaboration between the City of Vancouver and the Gastown Business Improvement Society.

The closure will start at Richards Street in the west and end at Columbia Street at the neighbourhood’s eastern boundary.

Many bars and restaurants will have temporary street patios and retail businesses can also set up outdoors.

The GBIS calls the Sunday closures a compromise after some businesses complained last summer’s complete shutdown hurt their bottom lines.

“Unfortunately, about 30 per cent of our businesses, especially here on the east end, saw negative revenues anywhere from 30 to 40 to 50 per cent,” said Walley Wargolet, executive director.

“So, what we wanted to do was find a compromise. Our businesses want folks to come down here and experience Gastown. We just don’t want there to be a negative impact.”

The city said each Sunday will feature different programming and activity zones providing a family-friendly atmosphere for locals and tourists alike.