With the Woodwards development set to bring new life into the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood in four years' time, there's another initiative underway which is bringing more immediate improvements to the area over the near term.
This is, of course, the city's Chinatown revitalization project, which has actually been underway since 1999.
Among those improvements that have already been completed are the Chinatown Millenium Gate, which was finished in 2002 and the Silk Road walkway, which connects Chinatown and the Vancouver Public Library.
Looking ahead, the City has extended its Heritage Incentive Program through 2008, which aims to encourage local property owners to restore older buildings in the neighbourhood. There are also plans to link local attractions to form a 'cultural quarter' that connects with the Carrall Street Greenway.
Furthermore, the City is considering ways to bring back the old neon signage that last lit up Chinatown back in the 1960s.
For more information, have a look at the City of Vancouver's specially-designed website which has more details about the project, including links to several GVTV.ca videos.
