The facility Frederick Turner built in 1913 to expand his small dairy business in Vancouver is set for another transformation.

Throughout its more than 100 years, the complex at the corner West 17^th Avenue and Ontario Street has evolved from a dairy to other industrial uses such a luggage factory, book publishing, candle making, and furniture warehouse.

Reflecting the ongoing and rapid changes in the city brought on by the development boom, the property is now being planned for residential use.

The Hemani family, who bought the site for its leather goods manufacturing business in 1978, has applied to rezone 6 West 17^th Avenue and build 13 new homes.

The plan involves the adaptive reuse of two of the three buildings on the property occupying two city lots in the Riley Park neighbourhood.

The application also includes the designation of the old dairy complex as a heritage property.

“Currently, Hassan and Amir Hemani who worked in the diary as children assembling leather handbags for the family business, have a vision to see the historic building rehabilitated and active used again, as a legacy to the site and their family’s history on it,” according to the intent letter forming part of the rezoning application.

Elana Zysblat Consulting prepared a heritage statement of significance for the property, which it described as a “rare surviving example of a purpose-built dairy”.

The heritage statement recalled the history of the place, starting with Turner and family, who had been living at 255 East 17^th Avenue since 1911.

According to the document, Turner and his three sons started a small dairy business in a shed at the back of their home.

Turner obtained a permit in 1913 to construct commercial-sized dairy building at what is now the site of the old complex.

Turner got a second permit in 1914 to build a stable.

Turner died in 1919, and the family closed its dairy business at 6 West 17^th Avenue.

A year after its closure, Edenbank Creamery of Chilliwack moved in, and used the facility as its Vancouver location from 1921 to 1923.

Storekeeper Charles F. Payne in 1923 applied for a building permit to construct the third building at the site.

Between 1927 and 1930, the complex was used by Ayrshire Dairy.

“At some point in the 1920s, the building was bought by Associated Dairies. Associated Dairies Ltd. was an amalgamation of several dairies in Western Canada, and was most probably associated with Ayrshire Dairy,” the heritage statement recalled.

Associated Dairies in 1930 merged with the Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association, which, according to newspaper accounts cited by the heritage statement, controlled 80 percent of the milk business in the Greater Vancouver area.

“Large dairy mergers (like Associated -1930 and Palm -1950) brought an end to most local, family owned dairies in Vancouver,” the document stated. “New large plants were constructed for these mega companies in Alberta and many of the original dairy buildings were either demolished or adapted for other uses.”

The complex was vacant during the depression years of 1931 and 1932.

From 1933 to 1946, the complex owned by Associated Dairies was leased to the Murray Company jam makers.

In 1946, the complex was bought by the Izen family to serve as the Vancouver location of its Durabilt luggage manufacturing firm in Seattle.

The Hemani family acquired the property and the Durabilt brand in 1978.

Talonbooks operated at the site from 2003 to 2004. It was later used for candle making and as a furniture warehouse. According to the heritage statement, the last tenant was Himlight Wax Factory.