The Olympic Village served as a catalyst for urban renewal, inspiring similar projects in other parts of Vancouver and helping to establish the city as a world-class destination for sports, culture and tourism. No other metropolis in North America had the opportunity to develop a waterfront neighbourhood in the heart of the city in the 20th century. It is surprising that it took so long, but the 2010 Olympics was the perfect catalyst. Without the success of the Olympic Village nearby neighbourhoods such as Mount Pleasant, Cambie City Centre, and parts of Fairview would not have undergone the renaissance they have in the past decade.
Officially the Olympic Village core is between Quebec and Columbia St and capped by 2nd Ave, which is basically a 4-block by 4-block area. But, the neighbourhood and development ethos extends east to Main St and west to Cambie. Without the development of Olympic Village the Cambie City Centre nucleus would not have the significance and impact it does today--and will continue to have due to the importance past and current city council regimes have placed on it. Mount Pleasant always had a cultural significance to Vancouverites, but real estate values, new developments, and increased commercial units for small business owners and restauranteurs would not have had the surge in the 2010's without OV (Olympic Village) paving the way.
Great Northern Way, the thoroughfare that extends from 2nd avenue from Main St to the border of Mt Pleasant at Clark Drive, was a forgotten strip of industrial warehouses that housed art galleries and creative start-ups for the better part of the last three decades. It would have stayed that way, and that's not necessarily a bad thing if the influence of OV didn't bring in development money and interest to increase the footprint and legacy of the city's artists. That area is now home to the new Emily Carr university which had its' home moved from its previous home in Granville Island. The new university is a beacon for artists of all types and is also a station of the Broadway Line that is currently in development.
Fairview was Vancouver's car garage/mechanic zone for so many decades, and it still is but has also been transformed into the newest brewery district that hosts music festivals and cultural events. Mostly industrial zoned that allows manufacturing of products, warehouses, and other uses, the city has allowed expansion to residential, office, and retail spaces. I hope this continues because it is such a beautiful area that has the potential to enrich and galvanize the residents and business owners that reside in these three main areas on the border of east and Vancouver west.
Check out the 'whats for sale?' and 'neighbourhood guide' pages to see more of what is in the area.