Neighbourhood Guides - Richmond

Overview

 

Richmond is an expanding city in Greater Vancouver situated on a grouping of small islands in the estuary of the Fraser river and connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. Whether you are searching to buy a traditional home or condo in Vancouver the area has a lot to offer, with an increasingly diverse range of housing. This is supported by the local planning and development plan which aims to provide a wide range of housing to suit the widest range of age, income and families. A large amount of the developments recently completed and in progress include a significant amount of multi-family units close to the city center. With development being a key priority for the city, high quality condos and other housing will continue to be widely available and the city is expected to continue to grow rapidly in terms of population, facilities and services in the coming decade.

 

Transport

 

Lying only 20 minutes by car from the business center of Vancouver, Richmond is an increasingly popular location for both young professionals seeking condo accommodation and also for working families. Two major freeways and railway lines link Richmond with the neighboring cities on the mainland by a series of bridges and a tunnel. The US border is also within around 20 minutes drive and Vancouver International Airport is only 10 minutes away, located on Sea Island, making Richmond one of the best connected districts within Vancouver. Translink offer a full timetable of buses offering easy links both within the city and the wider area, with new high speed links to downtown Vancouver planned to begin operating in the near future.

 

Schools and Universities

 

The city is served by School District 38 which operates a large number of schools and a significant amount of additional educational programs. Kwantlen University College also has one of its four campuses located in Richmond and other further education institutions in Vancouver are easily accessible from the city.

 

Recreation and Facilities

 

As you would expect from a city located on an island, many of the recreational opportunities in the area are of an aquatic or maritime nature. In addition, the island is also partly rural, which offers further outdoor activities, including walking, exploring natural wetlands or cycling the accessible dyke trails. In total, there are also over 1200 acres of parks and a number of sporting facilities, health clubs and community centers. The city has two indoor and outdoor aquatic centers, three public piers and a launching site, while there are numerous picnic areas, several golf courses and playing fields. The small historic village of Steveston and the Minoru Chapel in Minoru Park are popular attractions for both residents and visitors alike. In addition, Richmond is well known as a major attraction for its shops. There are six large malls, several warehouse outlets and a popular and well known Auto Mall. Specialists Asian outlets add even further to the attraction and diversity of the shopping experience and, with a wide range of pubs and restaurants, Richmond will not disappoint food lovers. In addition to Minoru Chapel Heritage Site other cultural attractions include a theater, art gallery and museums. Richmond combines all the advantages of city living with the a relaxed style of life and easy access to recreational facilities.