05/02/2026
Central Lonsdale is one of those places that already feels like the heart of the North Shore. Local shops. Good foot traffic. A distinct character. Easy transit connections. And views that remind you where you are.
That’s why the Lonsdale Great Street Project matters. It’s a City of North Vancouver initiative to strengthen and revitalize Central Lonsdale as a vibrant neighbourhood main street. The early work was shaped with support from Gehl, the urban design firm known for helping cities become more walkable, people-focused, and lively at street level.
The long view
The vision is pretty simple: in 20 years, Central Lonsdale is the North Shore’s most loved main street. A welcoming place where local businesses thrive, people gather, and the street connects homes, shops, and mountain views.
However, any plan that’s serious about the future also has to name what’s already happening:
* Rising rents
* Risk of small business displacement
* Not enough places to sit or gather
* An uneven walking experience along parts of the corridor
The goal of this project is to enhance the street with thoughtful design for generations to come. That means thinking carefully about:
* Small business
* Design
* Walkability
* Public space
The plan focuses on 3 key pillars:
1) Ensure businesses can thrive
* A healthy, attractive business mix
* Support existing small businesses (relocation, subsidies, etc.)
* Highlight and support long-standing businesses
* Bring visitors from across the North Shore
2) Enhance liveability through planning and design
* Expand commercial spaces (side streets, upper floors, rooftop decks, terraces)
* Encourage active storefronts like cafés
* Thoughtful distribution of density
* Maintain mountain and water views
3) Enhance access and public space
* Improve streetscape and building design guidelines
* Create and cultivate new public spaces
* Better access for all modes of travel: walking, cycling, transit, goods movement, and vehicles
* Activate spaces with local events
What Council said (and clarified)
Council was generally positive on the report and reinforced the importance of thoughtful growth. Growth that respects local character, supports small businesses, and keeps a human-scale feel.
A few key clarifications came out of the discussion:
* No changes to the OCP around density or heights
* No plan to close Lonsdale to vehicles
* Parking stays part of the mix, including 30-minute parking on Lonsdale and 1,000+ off-street spaces nearby
And this work isn’t happening in a vacuum. Public engagement has been underway since 2024, and future updates would return to Council and the public.
My Take
Lonsdale is a street for people and businesses. If we want it to thrive, we need walkability, accessibility, and real support for local shops and services. It starts with safety and access first, and it also needs balance with room for parking, transit, and goods movement.
