The Neighbourhood
Shaughnessy: The Height of Prestige in The Heart of The City!
Planning has always been a key part of Shaughnessy's continuing heritage as a central Vancouver neighbourhood. Owned and developed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1900s, the area was designed as a prestigious alternative to the West End for the growing population of the (then) nouveaux riches in the city. Montreal landscape architect, Frederick Todd, and Danish engineer, L.E. Davick, designers of New York's Central Park collaborated to lay out the 6000 acres of Shaughnessy's wide verdant boulevards and winding crescents, offering a pleasing respite from downtown's daily grind, in the heart of the city. Shaughnessy is still characterized by sizeable homes with the earmarks of proud heritage.
The borders of Shaughnessy are in a way defined by shopping districts. To the west you’ll find the Arbutus Village Shopping Centre with its supermarket, banking and service amenities. An interesting mix of local shops and restaurants line Oak Street on the eastern side, while the northern edge features the eclectic shops of the South Granville Rise. The southern border, running along West 41st Avenue, offers everything from small, neighbourhood shops and restaurants to the luxury boutiques of the Oakridge Shopping Centre experience.