Volume 13 Number 8 November/December 2004 HERITAGE

Vanco N e w s l e tu t ev r er

Commodore Lanes opened on September 8th, 1930 and is still operating today. HERITAGE GOES BOWLING

he Commodore Ballroom has long been a popular night spot. One of the finest Art Deco buildings in the city, it was opened in 1931 by the Reifel Brothers. The second floor ballroom is loved by Tgenerations of Vancouver residents as the location of numerous concerts, dances and events. Less well-known is a hidden gem at the lower level — the Commodore Lanes and Billiards. After seventy-three years, this intact interior is still used for its original purpose — a five-pin bowling and billiards hall.

On Thursday November 25th, at 7 p.m., join Heritage Vancouver for an evening of fun, history and bowling at the Commodore Lanes, 838 Granville Street. Darrell Baily, involved in bowling for almost 35 years, will speak for half an hour, then we’ll bowl until 8.30. The cost is $10 for members, and $15 for non-members (this price includes Vancouver Bowling News (Dec 1945, a shoe rental). monthly containing information submitted by league secretaries, proprietors and third See you there. party bowling articles.

Cover images courtesy : Dell Lanes Roselawn Funeral Home Mark Your Calendar Endangered

HERITAGE VANCOUVER EVENTS November 27/7-11:00 pm/ Neon Lights The Roselawn Funeral Home (1661 East Please note that there are no Heritage Members/students $20; Non-members $25 + gst. Vancouver meetings at Vancouver Museum Pre-registration: 604.734.7368 near Commercial) may soon until 2005. Our events are: be six feet under — in a landfill site. This December 11/10 am ~ 4 pm/1st Annual exquisite 1941 Mission-style building November 25/7 pm/Commodore Lanes, Open Vancouver: Sacred Sites Walking Tour occupies four lots recently purchased by 838 Granville Street See http//:www.heritagevancouver.org/ or call 604.264.9642 the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. December 9/HV @ Roedde House, As the structure is not listed on the 1415 Barclay St. HOLIDAY HERITAGE Vancouver Heritage Register, it has no The holiday season provides a great opportunity protection against demolition. Although TALKS & LECTURES to visit some of our landmark buildings and his- November 25/7:30 pm toric neighbourhoods. As well as visiting one of there is currently no development VHS @ Vancouver Museum the craft fairs, take a walk in the neighbourhood; application, we assume Coastal Health Colin Preston, Reuben Ware & John Atkin, see Michael Kluckner and John Atkin, Vancouver intends to replace the existing structure Early Film Footage of our City Walks: Discovering City Heritage (2003). Of with a new health-related facility. particular interest are November 26/7 pm/VPL 350 W. Georgia St. November 18-21/11:00 AM-9:00 PM/Hycroft Roselawn deserves better. By Transit Museum Society (TRAMS), Manor,1489 McRae Avenue, Vancouver/ comparison, the former Imperial Oil Recollections: A Cinematic Look at Service Station (Malone’s) on Cornwall, Vancouver’s Early Rail-Transit Years November 19-21/Eastside Culture Crawl also Mission style, is listed as a ‘B’ on the Free; no reservation required. Hours: Friday: 5 pm to 10 pm; Saturday & Sunday Phone: (604) 331-3603 11 am to 6 pm. See: http://www.culturecrawl. Register. Roselawn, an East Broadway bc.ca. landmark, is at least as architecturally sig- TOURS & EXPEDITIONS nificant as Imperial Oil and should be in November 20/10:00 am/Secrets of the City November 20 through December 12 the Register. As such, it should be eligible Series Members $15; Non-members $20 Saturday & Sunday +GST. Pre-registration: 604.734.7368. Meet Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street see http://www. for heritage incentives. As the structure at Vancouver Museum. heritagehall.bc.ca/contentframe/events.html. occupies only a portion of the site, there may be many potential options for incor- November 21/10:00 am/Nihonmachi — A November 30/10 am-3 pm/ Aberthau Craft Fair, porating the architecturally significant walking tour Tickets: 604.734.7368. Meet @ West Point Grey Community Centre, 487 Alexander Street. A tour of Vancouver’s 4397 West 2nd Avenue. portions of the building in a new develop- Powell Street District to place Puccini’s ment. Not only will we watch Roselawn Madama Butterfly in the context of closely, but we will also press for a major contemporary Japanese life in Vancouver overhaul of the Heritage Register. in the early 20th century. Roselawn Funeral Home photo back page

Obit: Watson Street Houses Torched

On the night of September 27, in an nature of Watson Street, which is last examples of the small, utilitar- appalling spree of destruction, a part more like a lane than a regular street. ian workers cottages common in of Vancouver’s early history was lost. The cabins were dilapidated but Vancouver’s early days, the City had A spectacular blaze, deliberately set “quirky and cute”, examples of the asked developer Robert Wilson, by evicted tenants bent on revenge, ‘hidden Heritage’ described in the a veteran of heritage conversion destroyed three workers’ cabins on July/August 2004 HV newsletter. projects in and , Watson Street, near the intersection of Their listing on the Heritage Register to consider the feasibility of saving 12th and Main. An elderly woman still as ‘C’ category meant that any pro- the houses as part of a larger site inside one of the burning houses had posal for demolition required review assembly at that intersection. to be rescued. The near-riot condi- by the City’s heritage staff. The That opportunity is now lost. tions kept fire crews from getting near City could have offered incentives Perhaps this act of anarchy could the cabins, which were the last of their to keep and restore them; indeed, not have been anticipated, but it kind in Mount Pleasant. the Vancouver Sun (2/10/04) reported raises yet again whether further Heritage advocates considered the that heritage staff were optimistic that measures can be taken to prevent unique structures an essential piece of two cabins could be restored and the loss of heritage through arson? Mount Pleasant’s neighbourhood converted to townhouses. Because the second in Mount Pleasant this history, particularly given the unusual the structures were among the past year. ADVOCACY UPDATE

Woodward’s Riley Hillcrest Park Masterplan facades. Demolition of the Grand options: four retain, 2 demolish the Hotel is apparently necessary because As reported earlier, the City narrowed stadium. Approximately $3 million of existing rot in the junction points, the the Woodward’s development pro- will bring the stadium up to modern unworkable nature of the existing small posals to Concert/Holborn, Westbank building codes. Will this tip the balance single rooms and, finally, the need and Millennium. Heritage Vancouver against preservation? We hope not. to demolish the building to excavate went on record as strongly favour- The numerous ‘Friends of Nat for underground parking. The parking ing the Concert/Holborn proposal for Bailey’ are protesting demolition. rationale is interesting, as heritage its heritage conservation, respectful Their arguments have convinced incentives allow for relaxation of interventions, and appropriate scale the Park Board to direct staff “to parking requirements. Moreover, the of new development. HV could not work with the Friends of Nat Bailey structural argument suggests a dis- support Westbank’s and Millenniums’ to study the viability of preserving turbing precedent: most Gastown token heritage retention, facadism, [the] Stadium to enable it to continue buildings have a long history of and insensitive interventions — not to serve the community.” Apparently neglect and probably have some to mention spouting towers of 30+ the Park Board favours a preserva- structural decay. Is facadism the only storeys in a low-rise historic area. tion option that builds the curling solution? What do we mean by a September 29 was decision day: rink in a current parking lot on the preserved historic district? A district unfortunately, Council chose Westbank; northwest side. The final vote will of facades? its key criteria were “measuring and come in 2005. The major issue involves proposed assigning financial risk and uncertainty.” additional density. Fung proposes While recognizing that the Concert/ Water and Carrall adding three storeys above the Grand Holborn proposal “Represented the Redevelopment Proposal facade, one of which would not be most preferred heritage and urban set back. Two additional (set back) design and architecture scheme,” the A large piece of Gastown’s Water storeys are proposed for the Terminus. City concluded that Concert/Holborn Street frontage and five pivotal The additional bulk, partly visible “posed the biggest concerns in the buildings could be compromised, if from the street and highly obtrusive area of financial performance.” developer Robert Fung has his way. from the west, would overwhelm Despite the outcome, we believe On the west is the three-storey the existing facades. The proposal that Heritage Vancouver’s advocacy Terminus Hotel facade (1886), with also includes the addition of a one- influenced Council, which instructed its distinctive bay windows and ped- storey glass atrium on top of the Westbank to “improve heritage imeted parapet — all that remains Alhambra, and three additional floors Conservation” in its detailed design after a tragic fire. On the east, at on the Garage. Under the previous development. Moreover, we were Maple Tree Square, is the Alhambra zoning (kept on the books to appease not alone: Gastown Historic Area Hotel (1886/7), built by Victoria Gastown property owners), Fung Planning Committee (GHAPC), real-estate speculator George Byrnes is entitled to build to a full height while favouring Westbank, also called and designed by architect Elmer H. of 75 feet, with no set back, so the for increased heritage preservation. Fisher — one of Vancouver’s best City’s heritage planners are under We understand that negotiations have examples of Victorian Italianate some pressure to accommodate the already begun. Heritage Vancouver design. In between the Terminus current proposal. will continue to advocate for an and Alhambra are the Grand Hotel, HV believes that adding more increased level of heritage retention, a 3-storey Victorian commercial floor space to the Garage is better an improvement in the design of frontage; the Cordage, a four-storey than piling too much density on interventions, and reduction in the Edwardian commercial building; and the Terminus and Grand sites. The height of the proposed tower. Letters the ‘Garage’, a two-storey poured Garage, a simple, exposed concrete to Council will articulate our concerns. concrete building with simple Art building with a broad 50-75 foot Deco inspired details converted into frontage, can take additional height Nat Bailey Stadium a small retail court in the 1970s. without looking clumsy. The addi- The good news is that the burnt- tional height would reinforce the Nat Bailey Stadium is under threat out facade of the Terminus Hotel ‘sawtooth’ pattern, perhaps with — the $28-million curling rink for will be incorporated into a new the upper storey set back to reduce the 2010 Olympics, along with other building. The bad news is the Grand apparent height. We’ll keep you posted. proposed recreational facilities, Hotel will become but a facade. A could push the stadium into oblivion. new structure will be built behind The Park Board website posts 6 both the Terminus and Grand HeritageHeritage Vancouver Vancouver MembersMembers Get Get 10% 10% Off Off WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT VANCOUVER museum Dear Members presents

It is a great honour to be elected to serve as the President of Heritage Vancouver. As one of the founding Directors of the Society, it has been my pleasure to work closely with all past The best gifts Presidents, starting with Michael Kluckner. Our other past presidents, John Atkin, Jo Scott-B, Susanna Houwen and Janet Leduc, have all left a personal stamp on the society throughout the last 13 years. These are big shoes for me to fill, especially in history! when Vancouver’s unprecedented growth is putting enormous pressure on our fragile heritage resources. The Vancouver Museum Store Heritage Vancouver is your voice for preservation. I need your help and support to succeed in our mandate to advocate and A hit with locals and tourists educate about the value of heritage preservation. I look forward alike, the Vancouver Museum to the challenge of acting on your behalf. Store has an eclectic blend of art, jewelry and exhibit related merchandise, from hand- crafted First Nations jewelry to beautiful coffee-table books, Donald Luxton President Heritage Vancouver you will truly find the best gifts in history.

Board of Directors 2004-2005 Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-5 President, Don Luxton 1100 Chestnut St., Vancouver Vice-President, Susan Boissoneault Treasurer: Karen Russell (just over the Burrard St. Bridge) Secretary: Emma Hall tel: 604-736-4431 ext. 387 www.vanmuseum.bc.ca Members at Large: Terry Brunette Richard Keate Photo: Richard Keate Lindsay Macintosh Roselawn Funeral Home Sharon Meen Stephen Mikicich Clint Robertson Peter Vaisbord Join Heritage Vancouver Membership valid one year from date of issue. Members receive a Name: monthly newsletter and reduced rates for tours and other activities. Address: City: Charitable donation #1073758-52. Membership fees are Postal Code: Telephone: E-mail: not tax deductible.

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www.heritagevancouver.org Please send cheque or money order to: Heritage Vancouver, P.O. Box 3336, Main Post Office, Vancouver, BC V6B 3Y3

Editor: Sharon Meen [email protected] Newsletter design by Piper Design [email protected] / 604.266.2569