Ravenna : Seattle :: ____ : Vancouver ?
August 27, 2019 3:54 PM Subscribe
What neighborhoods in Vancouver, BC are "most like" north Seattle neighborhoods (Ravenna, Queen Anne, Ballard, etc)? Talking about access to amenities, "feel", and cost. The north Seattle neighborhoods I mention have single family homes with small yards and townhomes, often within walking distance to at least a few good restaurants and a grocery store and parks/libraries, but only a 15 minute drive to downtown core where a lot of the offices and theater/museums are located.
I live in East Van and have spent a fair bit of time in Seattle (and love a lot of the areas you mention). The character's not *quite* the same but the Commercial Drive, Hastings Sunrise and Mount Pleasant areas definitely have some similarities. Mount Pleasant (and the other two areas to some extent have gentrified a lot the last 10 years, and that's still ongoing, so Restaurants, parks and libraries and amenities won't be a problem, but cost might. It's expensive here, at least to buy, but you can still find some reasonable-ish rents if you're lucky.
MeMail me if you've got any more specific questions!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:34 PM on August 27, 2019
MeMail me if you've got any more specific questions!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:34 PM on August 27, 2019
I grew up in North Seattle (mostly Ravenna, also Loyal Heights) and lived in Vancouver for a little while. The Dunbar-Southlands neighborhood where I lived, in Vancouver's West Side, felt extremely close to the neigborhoods where I lived in Seattle. (Specifically, I was near Dunbar and W 24th Ave.) Mostly older single-family houses; some small retail areas; near the university. This was well over a decade ago, so the areas might have changed a bit since then.
posted by mbrubeck at 6:14 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by mbrubeck at 6:14 PM on August 27, 2019
Looking at pictures of Ravenna, it reminds me a lot of certain affluent areas of South Surrey/ White Rock or Township of Langley/ Fort Langley or Fraser Heights in NE Surrey.
They are all far from Vancouver downtown core, but they have their own smaller "downtowns." They qualify under "cost," which is relative. It depends on neighbourhoods, but there are definitely good restaurants to be found - even unexpected ones.
Fort Langley and White Rock are known for (ethnically Canadian - "caucasian" - in contrast to Vancouver proper which has lots of great Canadian/ "West Coast" restaurants) restaurants and the Langley area is rife with wineries and cideries. There are perfectly acceptable Vietnamese/Cambodian places everywhere. Sushi places everywhere, and very good sushi places exist in all these neighbourhoods. Top notch places, or bistro-style Japanese, you'll have to go to Vancouver. Good Chinese/ Cantonese/ Shanghainese/ Szechwan (not Chinese-Canadian) are non-existent, though. Lack of Taiwanese places.
Eastern European restaurants are more in the "Tri-cities" Burnaby/ Coquitlam/ Port Coquitlam areas, although there's a Georgian restaurant in Richmond (mostly HK/ Taiwanese and Mainlander Chinese) that looks really interesting.
Restauranteering in Vancouver proper is so expensive, so high risk, that a lot of young chefs/ entrepreneurs are moving to urbanizing rural areas like Langley.
In terms of being proximate to Vancouver downtown core (it's still a 40-45+ min skytrain to downtown), you want to look at New Westminster. Tons of good bars and restaurants. Mix of SFH/ low-/ high- rises. Good public transit. Road infrastructure inadequate for the current population.
If you're $ limited, Queensborough might be worth considering.
posted by porpoise at 8:52 PM on August 27, 2019
They are all far from Vancouver downtown core, but they have their own smaller "downtowns." They qualify under "cost," which is relative. It depends on neighbourhoods, but there are definitely good restaurants to be found - even unexpected ones.
Fort Langley and White Rock are known for (ethnically Canadian - "caucasian" - in contrast to Vancouver proper which has lots of great Canadian/ "West Coast" restaurants) restaurants and the Langley area is rife with wineries and cideries. There are perfectly acceptable Vietnamese/Cambodian places everywhere. Sushi places everywhere, and very good sushi places exist in all these neighbourhoods. Top notch places, or bistro-style Japanese, you'll have to go to Vancouver. Good Chinese/ Cantonese/ Shanghainese/ Szechwan (not Chinese-Canadian) are non-existent, though. Lack of Taiwanese places.
Eastern European restaurants are more in the "Tri-cities" Burnaby/ Coquitlam/ Port Coquitlam areas, although there's a Georgian restaurant in Richmond (mostly HK/ Taiwanese and Mainlander Chinese) that looks really interesting.
Restauranteering in Vancouver proper is so expensive, so high risk, that a lot of young chefs/ entrepreneurs are moving to urbanizing rural areas like Langley.
In terms of being proximate to Vancouver downtown core (it's still a 40-45+ min skytrain to downtown), you want to look at New Westminster. Tons of good bars and restaurants. Mix of SFH/ low-/ high- rises. Good public transit. Road infrastructure inadequate for the current population.
If you're $ limited, Queensborough might be worth considering.
posted by porpoise at 8:52 PM on August 27, 2019
People might correct me, but that feels like some parts of North Burnaby (where I live) to me. Now, I'm in an apartment, and there are more and more apartment buildings going up, but you walk a few blocks off the main streets and it is all houses. A bit more then 15 minutes downtown (closer to half an hour), but more restaurants then you can shake a stick at in walking distance.
posted by Canageek at 11:21 AM on August 28, 2019
posted by Canageek at 11:21 AM on August 28, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
Commercial Drive is gonna be the best starting point, though.
posted by Cpt. The Mango at 5:07 PM on August 27, 2019 [4 favorites]