The City of Vancouver is proposing a major rehabilitation of Blood Alley in Gastown, with construction beginning in 2018.
The existing brick paving and granite blocks were introduced to Blood Alley — also known as Trounce Alley — in the 1970s, as part of the city’s Gastown beautification project. Over 40 years later, many of the surfaces are in poor condition and the entire alley is in need of revitalization.
As the area has gentrified over the years, new restaurants have opened on Water and Cordova streets as well as in the alley, and their dumpsters are now located in the alley as well. The city says the revitalization project will include an “alternative” way to manage commercial waste, and remove the dumpsters from the alley.
New concrete paving in the alley is proposed, framed by red brick and reclaimed granite from the alley as it exists today. The existing planters and steps will also be rehabilitated and/or reconstructed. There will be multiple open spaces in the alley that the city hopes to use for community events such as markets and performances from local arts groups. Two different options are being proposed by the city, click here to view the presentation.
Two upcoming open houses are being held by the City of Vancouver to review the draft concepts for the alley:
- August 24 2016, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Blood Alley Square
- August 27 2016, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Blood Alley Square
For more information on the project, visit the city’s website.
