1243 Hamilton Street, 1904 1251 Hamilton Street, 1904 These houses form a pair of similarly designed homes built at the same time by one owner. Not currently listed on the VHR, they are threatened by demolition if no suitable retention strategy is found on alternate sites.
LAST HOUSE STANDING
the fate of single-family homes inVancouver’s Yaletown community
cities | vancouver bc by tanya southcott
development historic districts removal demolition character
On the north shore of False Creek in Vancouver’s downtown, the historic area of Yaletown is most commonly known for its streetscapes of former industrial warehouse buildings dating back to the turn of the century, mixed with modern glass high-rise residential development towers. When the Canadian Pacific Railway extended its line, moving its western terminus from Yale – the centre of the Fraser Canyon Gold rush in the late 1800s – to what is now Vancouver, many of Yale’s residential and rail worker population followed, settling around the new rail yard and repair facilities.This modest housing stock, made up of typically Edwardian two and a half storey wood-frame single-family houses, was both economical and convenient because of its proximity to nearby expanding heavy-industrial land. The area thrived in the following decades as warehouses, truck and transfer firms and small manufacturers moved in close to the rail line and shipping docks, but it was short lived. By mid-twentieth century industry had shifted towards major highway and truck-trailer transport routes and low-rent suburban land, and again the residential population followed. In the late 1970s and early 80s,Yaletown was the site of a significant urban regeneration project. Industrial land on the north side of False Creek was rezoned to permit comprehensive redevelopment into residential neighbourhoods. Modern high- rise residential towers replaced old derelict industrial yards- cum -parking lots seemingly overnight. Although several former industrial and warehouse buildings survived the transition by being converted to loft-style apartments and offices and absorbed into larger developments, little of the housing stock remains. Those that are left find value in their longevity as rare survivors of early twentieth century residential development. In a neighbourhood of commercial structures and high-rise residential development, at odds with both time and space, they struggle to find a place of permanence in a continually evolving urban landscape.
1991 City Council amended Downtown Vancouver’s Official Development Plan for the area of Downtown South, a 51ha area to the west of Yaletown that includes the remaining single-family homes. The plan endorses the development of new housing capacity for Vancouver in the form of a new high density, liveable, safe and environmentally conscious community. The Plan allows an overall general zoning provision for 5 FSR and a maximum tower height of 300ft. The City of Vancouver developed a new Historic Area District Schedule for Yaletown to define policy that protects the heritage character of the area by encouraging conversion and renovation of existing warehouse buildings and the construction of compatible new buildings. According to this Schedule, special character is defined by the collection of buildings constructed of heavy timber, brick and concrete. No reference is made to the remaining single-family homes. 1996 2007 City Heritage staff reviewed 16 properties as part of a Council approved study to identify and assess the value of the remaining pre-war houses in the Downtown South area, including possible retention strategies. Since this time, eleven of these have been added to the Vancouver Heritage Register (VHR), ten of which have received designation. n
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