Robson Square not yet the celebrated heart of Vancouver it's designed to be

When Vancouver city council approved permanently closing 800 Robson Street to vehicle traffic inApril 2016, it envisioned a vibrant space where people would gather, sit back and relax.

But even on a nice day in January, sun-deprived Vancouveritesdon't sprawl out on the plaza in partbecause there is no place to sit.

Sisters JoniMcPhailandMarianeDavis meetfor a quick coffee before McPhail, who lives in Toronto, has to head to the airport. The two sit down on aconcrete bench located at the footsteps of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

There hasbeen a rotation of temporary seating fromgiant white bean-bag chairsand yellow and greenbenches, to thecolourful Porch Parade.

The problem is, the city had to remove the last round of tables and chairsbecause people kept stealing them.

The plaza, as it was proposed, has notcome to fruition and isn't expected tountil 2019.

"Right now we are in the design phase of creating a permanent plaza at that location," said MargaretWittgens, director ofpublic space and street use with the City of Vancouver's engineering department.

That phase would include permanent street furniture which can't be stolen in addition to landscaping and lighting.

While the site hasn't reached its maximum potential, overthe yearsit has been home tospecial events,film setsanda giant Christmas tree that has routinely served as the backdrop for many selfies.

But day to day, it's mostly frequented bypedestrians and cyclists who are passing by.

During its busiest hour,2,500 people pass through the area, according to Wittgens.

The street was firstclosed in 2010in order to create a gathering space for pedestrians during the Olympics. It has also been closedforannual public art installations.

In 2012councillorsasked city staffto investigate a permanent closure of the block and a report noted thatturning the street into a public plaza would be in keeping with architect Arthur Erickson's original design for the Robson Square complex from 40 years ago.

Despitethe lack of seating, the city approvedthe operation of food trucks that nowdrawthousands of people to the area.

Jim Mustard swings bytwo to three times a month to graba bite at one of thefood trucks.

"Closing of the streetis irrelevant to me, it neither adds nor detracts for the reason forme being here," said Mustard.

"There never was a lot of traffic through the plaza in any case," he said.

The area is more lively in the summer months, especially with artists and buskerswho don't require a citya permit to work orperform.

And food truck operatorssay business has improved ever since the area turned into a traffic-free pedestrian space, although they note thatmarijuana vendors have a negative effect.

On a sunny weekend, there can be up to 40 marijuana vendors that set up tables to sell a variety of productsfrom joints to edibles.

"The way things are, it's like we're in hell,really,"said Alistair Fitzgerald, owner ofSauzzyThai food.

Fitzgeraldhas been operating at thesite for three years but says he often closes early because theweedsmoketurnscustomers away.

Plus, he said it's unfair thathe has to pay $1,000 a yearfor a licencewhile pot sellers don't.

DavidLabadiesells marijuana edibles just a few metres away and says he's approached the city to request a permit, but was refused.

"It's not as if we haven't tried or aren't willing to play by the rules, but they won't allow us to, so we have to make our own [rules]," he said.

During a press conferenceearlier this month, Vancouver MayorGregorRobertson expressed his concern about the unlicensed vendors.

"That's a situation we have to deal with," he said.