Mainland and Helmcken

Like so many things, the Yaletown of the 1980s is nearly unrecognizable today. Around the time of this 1981 shot (bottom left), the area was a neighbourhood-in-waiting, home to abandoned industrial warehouses, a few gay bars (more on that on page 42) and something of a rough reputation. Today (bottom right) the über-trendy area is the epitome of urban renewal with its hip start-ups, bustling restaurants and beauty bars making it a very palatable place for a real estate investor.