The looming conversion of the Empire Granville 7 theatres to office and retail space is waking people up to the changes taking place along Granville Street.

In fact, the application by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership could move this area one step closer to becoming the city's next high-tech zone.

Nearly a year ago, Downtown Business Improvement Association CEO Charles Gauthier told the Straight that the arrival of Sony Pictures Imageworks, Nordstrom, and Microsoft in the 700 block opened up the possibility of turning the southern downtown section of Granville into a hub for knowledge workers.

The opening of the new Telus Garden building, with its 2,000 knowledge workers, was seen as another catalyst. With two rapid-transit lines stopping near the corner of Granville and West Georgia streets, it's easy for many employees living outside the core to reach this part of town.

Gauthier didn't paper over some of the challenges, which included 20 empty storefronts on Granville between Robson and Drake streets.

The biggest blight of all was the darkened movie theatres in the 800 block. Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership's application will likely address this particular problem. It's seeking approval for 27,011 square feet of retail on the basement and ground floors, as well as 29,784 square feet of office space on the second and third floors.

In addition, Tom Lee Music has announced that it's vacating its store on Granville and moving to West Georgia Street. This came after the building was bought by the Bonnis family, which redeveloped the eastern side of the 700 block of Granville several years ago.

The city also has plans to remove the “Granville loops”, which are the two on-ramps connecting Pacific Street to the bridge. As the Straight has previously reported, this will transform this part of the strip and enhance pedestrian movement from the downtown.

Another piece of the puzzle is Westbank's Vancouver House, which will loom large over the northern end of the Granville Bridge. It will enliven the retail presence in that area.

For decades, Vancouverites have gotten used to pizza by the slice, drunken late-night hooliganism, and porn shops along Granville Street.

But it's possible that after many efforts over the years, this area could finally be on the verge of a major transition along the lines of what's occurred in the past in Gastown and Yaletown.

These transformations don't happen instantaneously. They can take up to a decade to unfold. So don't expect to wake up tomorrow and notice any monumental change.