Yaletown seems to be failing; as you say the income/property value mix is probably wrong. You know when an area isn’t really functioning when the cell phone shops and nail bars start to take over, as they’re the cockroaches of the retail world. The only thing that seems to be doing well is the restaurants, which is something. To me the area doesn’t have a real neighbourhood vibe. Do you feel it does? l live near International Village and somehow I wouldn’t say it’s that successful – just more dark and windy canyons replacing what used to be a far more human-scale neighbourhood. Personally I avoid that area now; and I live only 6 blocks from there. It has no character or architectural or historical texture, and as usual the ground floors of the buildings, the ones that do have retail, are filled with global chains. I wonder if most urbanists would consider these to be good examples of a diverse urban mix. At least older buildings were saved in Yaletown, and many of the heights there are more reasonable. I agree that both of those areas are far better than the disorienting, shaded, culturally sterile North False Creek.

I wonder too if the income-level of residents is a variable worth considering. Hi-rises in the Westend seem to have a very different vibe than the tower neighbourhood of Coal Harbour.