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Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Old Apr 6th 2010, 7:35 pm
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Default Advice about Vancouver - Station Street

Hi

I am currently in Toronto and am planning on going to Vancouver at the end of the month. I have found an apartment in Station Street (here). Could anyone who knows this area advise whether the area is safe and how easy it would be for us to get around Vancouver from there (without a car)

Thanks
Dave

Last edited by davesol; Apr 6th 2010 at 8:44 pm.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 7:49 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

yeah, you should be fine without a car. Kinda a weird area amenities wise.

It's not the gaslight district though? I've never heard of that.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 8:13 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by Kiwilass
yeah, you should be fine without a car. Kinda a weird area amenities wise.

It's not the gaslight district though? I've never heard of that.
Do you think he means gastown? Not that he's anywhere near that either.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 8:14 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

However, it is a bit of a transitional area
After due consideration I have revised my opinion from a transitional area to a s***hole. Junior would be OK living there. I wouldn't.

As for safe? Probably OK if you keep your wits about you but definitely on the gritty side.

Last edited by JonboyE; Apr 6th 2010 at 8:22 pm.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 8:43 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by Alan2005
Do you think he means gastown? Not that he's anywhere near that either.
I did mean Gastown yes but I got confused anyway and you're right - it's not there! The place that I linked to on google maps is correct though
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 8:49 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by davesol
I did mean Gastown yes but I got confused anyway and you're right - it's not there! The place that I linked to on google maps is correct though
On the good side you're close to skytrain, bus, and walking distance to china town and the like.

on the bad side it's really lacking in amenities. it's kinda a weird no-man's land, you'll understand when you get there. Nonetheless, it's still really $$$ to buy a condo
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 8:51 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by davesol
I did mean Gastown yes but I got confused anyway and you're right - it's not there! The place that I linked to on google maps is correct though
From what I can see on street view there is a modern, decent looking apartment block at the end of Station Street that I think will include 923 and so you should be OK. Next door, at 928 is the American Hotel - basically a doss house that was shut down several years ago. Like much of Station street it is due for demolition.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 8:59 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Vancouver - Station Street

we have been offered a very good deal on an apartment there, but are just a bit worried that we have not seen it yet, and are just having to go from what we have seen from internet pictures and so on.

then again if we say no to this place, we are taking the risk that we may not be able to find anything for a short term, 1 months rent in May. They are asking for an answer today as they have had other interest

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Old Apr 6th 2010, 9:05 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by davesol
we have been offered a very good deal on an apartment there, but are just a bit worried that we have not seen it yet, and are just having to go from what we have seen from internet pictures and so on.

then again if we say no to this place, we are taking the risk that we may not be able to find anything for a short term, 1 months rent in May. They are asking for an answer today as they have had other interest
I'd take it.

Honestly, it's ok and once here you can suss things out.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 9:07 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by davesol
we have been offered a very good deal on an apartment there, but are just a bit worried that we have not seen it yet, and are just having to go from what we have seen from internet pictures and so on.

then again if we say no to this place, we are taking the risk that we may not be able to find anything for a short term, 1 months rent in May. They are asking for an answer today as they have had other interest
Do you know and trust the landlords? Do you have to part with cash before you see the place in person? I am a suspicious old so and so and would be very concerned about someone trying to put that kind of pressure on me.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 9:27 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Vancouver - Station Street

Originally Posted by davesol
Hi

I am currently in Toronto and am planning on going to Vancouver at the end of the month. I have found an apartment in Station Street (here). Could anyone who knows this area advise whether the area is safe and how easy it would be for us to get around Vancouver from there (without a car)

Thanks
Dave

It isn't the swankiest part of Vancouver,by any means, but I quite like it though. I have a good friend that used to live on Keefer st. There is some social housing around there but all quite nice. Some of it is a bit of a no mans land as Kiwilass said. I have walked around it a few times and the only thing there is science world and the Skytrain, oh and the sea taxi thing. I wouldn't say no especially if it is a good deal, then you can find your feet and pick and choose.

sarah x
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 9:30 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by JonboyE
Do you know and trust the landlords? Do you have to part with cash before you see the place in person? I am a suspicious old so and so and would be very concerned about someone trying to put that kind of pressure on me.
Me too. Then again I wouldn't part with cash on a place I hadn't seen with my own eyes even if I knew it was genuine and not some scam to pocket my deposit money.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 11:10 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

the area is changing but slowly. the vacant land behind station is where they are talking about building the new st pauls hospital. I'd not be too keen on my mrs wandering around that area at night, but it wouldn't bother me. it is slap bang next to the skytrain so excellent for transit but the area is still dodgy, but not entirely out of the question.

Chinatown (which it essentially is on the edge of) is going through a bit of redo and is slowly gentrifying but I'd say you are about 3-5 years too early. there is actually, a few little surprise places around there - the brick house is one of the neatest bars in the city (i used to manage a casino on keefer and main and we would go there a lot) - there are also a few neat eateries around - pho for soup, champgnolia or some thing for cheese and wine - and a very high end traditional chinese bistro - bao bei - there is also a new boutique hotel with a bar called the keefer which is very new age. nightclubs are starting to open in the area and more are planned - the city really want to turn the area around.

Last edited by dboy; Apr 6th 2010 at 11:18 pm.
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Old Apr 6th 2010, 11:48 pm
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Default Re: Advice about Gaslight District (Vancouver) - Station Street

Originally Posted by dboy
the area is changing but slowly. the vacant land behind station is where they are talking about building the new st pauls hospital. I'd not be too keen on my mrs wandering around that area at night, but it wouldn't bother me. it is slap bang next to the skytrain so excellent for transit but the area is still dodgy, but not entirely out of the question.

Chinatown (which it essentially is on the edge of) is going through a bit of redo and is slowly gentrifying but I'd say you are about 3-5 years too early. there is actually, a few little surprise places around there - the brick house is one of the neatest bars in the city (i used to manage a casino on keefer and main and we would go there a lot) - there are also a few neat eateries around - pho for soup, champgnolia or some thing for cheese and wine - and a very high end traditional chinese bistro - bao bei - there is also a new boutique hotel with a bar called the keefer which is very new age. nightclubs are starting to open in the area and more are planned - the city really want to turn the area around.
cheers for all the advice guys, I think we are going to go for it but haven't handed over any money yet so time to change our minds if something else comes up
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