Granville Island peninsula / shopping district, in
Vancouver,
British Columbia,
Canada, was named one of the world's greatest places by the Project for Public Spaces in 2004. Originally the area was connected to the mainland in 1919. It quickly became a manufacturing district. By 1949 the government began evicting people as a result of typhoid cases and a murder in the area.
Beginning in the 1970's the site began to be redeveloped by the federal government. The renovation maintained a focus on creating a people-friendly space. Plans included housing, parks, and exhibition space. It now stands as a famous tourist attraction. There is a large market as well as numerous malls. There are approximately fifty permanent vendors registered to the public market space, and additional one-hundred or so temporary ones according to sources. The space maintains regular hours from nine in the morning to seven at night except on holidays and cleaning / maintenance days.
In addition, buskers as called street performers are licensed to perform in the area. Performers licensed include musicians, magicians, and jugglers, as well as others. They are restricted to certain areas though to provide peace in the other areas. Approximately one-hundred of these buskers were licensed to perform on Granville Island in 2007.
The busiest times are between May and September. Transportation options include ferries, aqua-buses, and water taxis. During the 2010 Olympics there will also be a free light-rail that may be maintained after the 2010 Olympics conclude.
