Every Building on 100 West Hastings

I have been reading quite a few articles from the book "Every Building on 100 West Hastings" edited by Ruth Shier. It is published by the Contemporary Art Gallery (Vancouver) and I believe it was released in conjunction with the work by Stan Douglas (local artist/photographer) of the same name. This block of Hastings (directly across from the new Woodwards redevelopment) was touted in 1998 as "the worst block in Canada" by one reporter. Its boarded up windows and decrypted facades stand (barely) as a symbol of the despair of the entire Hastings area and the lack of investment/concern for this area since the early 1990s. This book has some great articles by many important sociologists/geographers about the history of the area and the affects of gentrification. I have become particularly interested in how zoning (especially protective zoning like heritage districts) affects the structure of the city. The book also highlights how Vancouver has dealt with urban renewal projects (Project 200) and other world events (Expo 86) which, unfortunately, suggests that how we are not handling the Olympic construction much better.