February 2003 HERITAGE
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Volume 12 Number 2 February 2003 HERITAGE Vanco N e w s l e tu t ev r er Top Ten Endangered Sites nce again, Heritage Vancouver presents its Top Ten is considering demolition of the concrete railings and the Endangered Sites. This is our third annual list. As addition of outrigger sidewalks. Without the original rail- this year’s Heritage Week theme is public places, ings, the bridge will lose its edges, and its architectural Oyou'll notice that many selections include public buildings, features will be isolated. The proposed outrigger structures structures, and spaces. You’ll also notice that quite a few will radically alter the external appearance of this landmark sites from last year’s list are still endangered. In our March structure. A coalition of stakeholders, including Heritage newsletter, we’ll feature updates on what has happened to Vancouver, have written the new Council stating that the sites from 2002 not on this year's list. Stay tuned! proposals are unacceptable—from both a transportation and heritage perspective. The coalition is asking Council to 1. Burrard Bridge instead consider dedicating the two outer traffic lanes to Completed in 1932 to provide a high-level crossing to the non-motorized traffic, a solution that would involve little western neighbourhoods, the bridge is a triumph of civic alteration to the Bridge itself. architecture and a key gateway structure. Architects Sharp and Thompson, conscious of the bridge’s ceremonial gate- 2. First Shaughnessy District way function, embellished the utilitarian steel superstructure Vancouver’s only residential heritage character area is fast with imposing concrete towers, torch-like entrance-pylons, losing its prime heritage stock of pre 1940’s houses. A total and art deco sculptural details. Unifying the parts are heavy of 44 A and B listed houses have been lost since the First concrete railings, originally topped by decorative street Shaughnessy Official Development Plan was instituted in lamps. To facilitate cyclist and pedestrian use, the City see page two Top Ten romantic estate-like landscaping that ity very different from the massive HERITAGE old Shaughnessy is also known for collegiate gothic Iona Building is being destroyed at the same rate commenced the same year (the lat- as the houses. ter perhaps better-known because VancoPRESENTSuver Seventy-two homes in First of its granite façade and landmark Shaughnessy are on the Vancouver tower). The VST grounds contain a Bryan Adams Warehouse Studios Tours Heritage Register, which means that remarkable collection of architec- 100 Powell Street, Gastown nearly 280 pre-1940 character homes ture, both period and modern, but all Sunday, February 16, 10:00 - 11:00 am are left without any form of recogni- or some are threatened by School of Saturday, February 22, 10:00 - 11:00 am tion or protection. Aggressive develop- Theology redevelopment plans. ers and architects are advising clients Warehouse Studios is housed in a that any house can be demolished in 4. Hastings Street (Cambie to Main), including Pantages Theatre, Ralph rehabilitated Gastown heritage build- First Shaughnessy, as long as they are Block, Woodward’s ing. There are only 30 spaces in each willing to maneuver their way through tour, so make a reservation on our hot- the city’s Planning Department and Once the commercial heart of line as soon as you can, 604.254.9411 the Advisory Design Panel. These Vancouver, East Hastings Street two bodies have no power to prevent between Cambie and Main is the the demolition of heritage buildings city’s best surviving turn-of-the-cen- and more importantly, they have no tury streetscape. However, the build- from cover Top Ten convincing incentives for retention to ings are empty, with little or offer to the owners of these homes. no maintenance, and demolition 1982 to preserve and protect the pre- One has only to look at the William has left ugly gaps along the street. 1940 heritage character of the neigh- Astley House at 3638 Osler St. to see Hastings Street needs help before bourhood. The pace has accelerated in a first rate craftsman house bracketed all of it is lost to the wrecking recent years, with grand old homes by bloated, historically inaccurate ball. Among its treasures, behind being replaced at a rate of 4-6 houses McMansions to understand the poten- a modest brick facade at 152 East per year. The design guidelines were tial threat that this trend poses to this Hastings, is the oldest remaining written in 1982 and offer the possibility grand old neighbourhood. Pantages Theatre in North America. of infill and conversion of large char- More on Shaughnessy next month. Built in 1907 by Alexander Pantages acter homes into flats. Unfortunately, as part of his emerging vaudeville the guidelines, which have never and movie empire, this theatre is been reviewed, did not anticipate that one of the oldest purpose-built this area would return to its original vaudeville interiors in Canada. The prominence as a centre for luxury theatre has been dark for over a single-family homes. Land values and decade and its future is still uncer- the resulting development pressure tain. Farther west, in the 100 block encourage owners to tear down orig- of West Hastings, is the rotting hulk inal homes so as to achieve the max- of the Ralph Block, an important imum square footage allowable for cast iron facade designed by promi- the generous lots. First Shaughnessy nent architects Parr and Fee (1899) has no cap on square footage (unlike and a B on the City’s Heritage Southlands with a cap of 9,000 square Register. The 100 block, anchored feet) and substantial old homes are by the historic Woodward’s build- being replaced with new houses of up ing and devastated by the store’s to 23,000 square feet. Current bylaws closure in 1993, is now in danger of ensure that these new homes are demolition by neglect. The former Canterbury House shorter in overall height than the department store has suffered from originals, with larger footprints. This 3. Canterbury House ten years of failed schemes, both means that the quality and quantity of (Vancouver School of Theology private and public, culminating in 6090 Chancellor Blvd.) calls for its demolition. The good One of Vancouver’s finest examples news is that the current City Council of the English Arts and Crafts move- has purchased Woodward’s from the ment, this Voyseyesque design was Province with the intention that the built for the Anglican Theological landmark building be rehabilitated College in 1927, two years after for needed housing, and for the development of the UBC Point Grey commercial and institutional activi- campus. The building’s landscaped, ties needed to jump-start the area’s informal profile projects a sensibil- economic revitalization. Threatened Shaughnessy house western approach to the original 1915 March 1998, a tragic fire destroyed all Georgia Viaduct, is a commemorative but the brick, bay-windowed facade, plaza called Viaduct Park. The park, now propped up by a steel frame in created in 1970 after the old Viaduct the hope that the owners might try was demolished, incorporates the origi- to save the facade as part of a new nal concrete railings and street lamps. building. Four years have passed, Under the proposed rezoning (to per- and the burned-out hulk continues to mit a Costco store and residential tow- deteriorate, its prospects weakened by ers), the Beatty Street grade would be low demand for upper floor uses in extended outward in a plaza structure, Gastown. Exposure to the elements burying the escarpment, and maroon- will soon complete what the fire left ing the Drill Hall on a flat surface. The unfinished. However, with approval of escarpment would become a concrete the new Gastown heritage incentives, retaining wall for a parkade, the tun- the economics of development have Beatty Street Drill Hall nel portal would be demolished, and suddenly improved, and with it re- Viaduct Park would be obliterated. newed interest in Gastown investment. 5. Beatty St. Drill Hall (620 Beatty) / (The first heritage project to utilize Bessborough Armoury (2025 W. 11th Ave. 7. Giant Dipper Roller Coaster the new incentives—and a reported near Arbutus) (PNE Playland) market success—are the recently The Beatty St. Drill Hall, built 1899- Playland’s Giant Dipper Roller Coaster completed loft residences across 1901 as the headquarters of the BC is known across North America as one the street at 65 Water St.) City staff Regiment, Duke of Connaught’s Own of the best coaster rides going, but if the should be doing their utmost to help Rifles, is Vancouver’s oldest surviving PNE becomes history the Coaster’s the owner utilize the new incentives drill hall. The structure, with its mas- future is bleak. Landscape architects to save this A-listed site. sive brick walls, crenellated turrets and have suggested that it be broken up and original interiors is an A-listed heri- used as garden sculpture in a re- 9. 900-1000 Block Main Street tage building. The Bessborough designed Hastings Park. This rare wood- When Westminster Avenue (Main St.) Armoury, a B-listed heritage site, was en coaster deserves better—much better. and Westminster Road (Kingsway) constructed 1931-33, and officially The Giant Dipper is constructed entirely provided the primary connection to opened by the Earl of Bessborough in of specially treated fireproof woods and New Westminster and the US border, 1934. This later structure is re-inforced was built from scratch on the PNE hotels and commercial establishments concrete rather than brick, and features Grounds. It’s 75 feet high at its tallest stretched south along the thoroughfare.