While the West End's Jim Deva Plaza was officially launched during Vancouver Pride Week, it's not finished being created.

Jim Deva Plaza coordinator Tess Munro said at a LOUD Business luncheon at the Chateau Granville Hotel on September 8 that there are still several elements to be completed at the plaza, including lighting, a water fountain, and seating. In the future, there may also be an area north of Davie Street on Bute Street that will be established to allow temporary street closures for events.

Munro, who works for both the West End Business Improvement Association and City of Vancouver, also emphasized that they're looking for groups and businesses who want to make use of the space.

"We felt that programming of the plaza and having communities groups in the space was really important for security, for safety, and for keeping it a really inviting place for community members and residents to actually be," she said.

She explained that the plaza was designed to accommodate events, with electrical hookups, onsite storage, and some tents and tables available.

Some events that have been held thus far have included Gordon Neighbourhood House's games night and the West End Arts Society's art market.

"We also try to encourage it to be seen as an extension of peoples' living spaces in the West End," she said. "A lot of people live in apartments. Many of them don't have balconies."

Events, she explained can be as small as holding a meeting or a book-club discussion to big events like a market, using the entire space.

Rather than visit the City of Vancouver website, Munro said people can visit the Jim Deva Plaza website where there's a booking procedure as well as an event schedule listed.

There is a $100 application fee for non-profit groups and a $200 fee for commercial or corporate organizations. Munro said that the fee may be waived for some non-profit organizations and events. Some City of Vancouver grants or subsidies can also help to offset the cost of an event.