News

Campaign launches to save historic Tudor-style Vancouver home from demolition

by Craig Takeuchi on March 31st, 2016 at 10:19 AM
    1 of 1 2 of 1

      In what is becoming a regular occurrence in our city's out-of-control real estate market, another historic home could be Vancouver's next teardown casualty.

      However, an online campaign has launched to save the Shaughnessy home from the wrecking ball.

      A 4,592 square-foot English Tudor-style home, built in 1922 at 1550 West 29th Avenue in Shaughnessy, was put on the market for $7.38 million. It features four bedrooms and five bathrooms. It was also the first Western Canadian house used as a showroom to demonstrate the use of electricity in homes.

      The listing includes states the property is almost ready for a development permit and there are architectural drawings for a 6,700 square-foot luxury home with five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, an indoor pool, and a four-car garage.

      An online letter-writing campaign, posted on the Vancouver Vanishes Facebook page, urges people to send letters to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and city council with the following template letter:

      Dear Mayor and Council,

      RE: Development Application DE418631

      I am writing to request that you direct staff to REJECT the application to redevelop 1550 West 29th Avenue.

      Built in 1922, this house is significant as both a creation of one of Vancouver’s most important architectural firms, Townley and Matheson (which designed City Hall), and as BC Electric’s “Model Electric Show House” for that year, the first house in Western Canada of its kind. The house is in PRISTINE CONDITION.

      The current owner of 1550 West 29th Avenue is proceeding with this development application WHILE THE HOUSE IS FOR SALE. The realty listing boasts this offer of: “Architectural drawings for a 6,700 square foot, 5 bedroom, 7 bathroom luxury home with 4 car garage, complete with indoor pool; almost ready for development permit – saving time for you to begin building your dream home.”

      Should this development permit be accepted, yet another piece of Vancouver’s built heritage will be ground up, joining the 974 single family homes and duplexes that were demolished last year. Once again Vancouver’s Greenest City objectives will be overridden by the profit motive.

      Please stand up for our besieged city. Reject this application.

      CTV is reporting that orange construction fencing has already been erected around parts of the property.

      Comments