If you're looking to relocate to a neighborhood that offers a blend of history, natural beauty, and urban conveniences, look no further than Dunbar Vancouver. Located in the west side of Vancouver, Dunbar is bordered by West 16th Ave to the north, West 41st Ave to the south, Quesnel Drive to Blenheim Street to the east, and Camosun Street to the west.
History
Dunbar's history dates back to the early 1900s when the land was owned jointly by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, the province of BC, and the municipality of Point Grey. The land was initially unsuitable for development as it had just been logged and left covered with burnt and fallen trees.
However, the Mounts family became the first non-native settlers in the area, purchasing the lot at 3379 West 22nd Avenue and building the area's first shack in 1912. Today, a 1988 home sits on that 33 X 122 standard lot, just one block from one of the childhood homes in the area.
Dunbar is also birthplace to the world's largest environmental organization, Greenpeace, which began with a small group of people meeting in the house at 3504 West 19th. Additionally, the 2,000-year-old Camosun Bog is a unique wetland area located within Pacific Spirit Regional Park, long revered by the Musqueam Natives as a portal to the spirit world. A boardwalk path begins at Camosun and 19th Avenue.
In 1935, Dunbar Theater, built in art deco architecture, was constructed between W 28th and W 29th on Dunbar. Unfortunetly it has been renovated since, and has lost its art deco design flair. Dunbar Cycles, which opened in 1927, and Stong's Market, which opened in 1931, are other notable landmarks in the area.
Amenities
Dunbar offers a range of amenities for residents to enjoy, including the Dunbar library and Dunbar Community Centre, which features baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and indoor amenities. The Dunbar shopping district is mainly Dunbar from 18th to 16th, Dunbar 26th – 29th, Dunbar 39th – 41st. The entire western edge of Dunbar is bound up against the University Endowment Lands, which locals refer to as Pacific Spirit Regional Park. This area features many walking trails, mountain biking trails, and plenty of wildlife.
Schools in the area include Southlands Elementary, Lord Kitchener Elementary (1915 & 2012), Queen Elizabeth Elementary, Queen Elizabeth Annex (which offers French immersion), Immaculate Conception, St. Georges Elementary, and St. Georges Secondary (1931).
Parks in Dunbar include Pacific Spirit Park, Valdez Park (an off-leash dog park), Park Site on Blenheim, Quadra West Park, Balaclava Park (an off-leash dog park), Camosun Park, and Memorial West Park (which includes a community center).
Real Estate
Dunbar's real estate market offers a mix of heritage homes, English Arts & Crafts, and Edwardian styles. The 1920s saw the first significant development in the area, with some of those homes still standing today. These early homes were situated well back on their lots, in line with West Point Grey's 1922 zoning bylaws. Today, those homes that remain stand out as local landmarks.Subsequent development booms took place in the area in the years following World War II and then again in the early '70s. Currently, the area features 2,231 Houses & 171 Apartments.Current real estate trends are the following:
Active Lot sizes: 3,300 sqft – 11,000 sqft
Active List Price range: $1.8m - $9.9m Sale price
24 months – $1.8m - $8.5m Sold
Lot size 24 months – 3,000 sqft – 11,500 sqft
For any real estate questions on Dunbar Vancouver homes for sale, contact me directly today to discuss the current options offered in todays market.