10 endangered heritage sites in Vancouver

Heritage Vancouver has released their annual list of 10 endangered heritage sites in the city.

Alongside a handful of historic buildings, three Vancouver neighbourhoods feature on this year’s endangered list. Chinatown, False Creek South and Commercial Drive are all at risk of losing their historic character due to development pressure, according to the latest watchlist from Heritage Vancouver.

The independent charity, dedicated to “creating a future” for Vancouver’s heritage, released its 2016 watchlist of threatened sites in early May.

“Approval of unsympathetic and out-of-scale projects can irretrievably alter the very sense of uniqueness that made these areas attractive for development in the first place,” reads the release.

“And while not every home can be or should be saved, we should strive to retain our most important sites.”

Full top 10 endangered sites watchlist

1. Bayview Community School (1913-14)

Bayview Community School in Kitsilano was built in 1913-14 in the Classical Revival style, but there are concerns it could be demolished.

2. Crown Life Plaza (1978)

The Crown Life Plaza’s tower, pool and waterfall on West Georgia could be forever changed by nearby development plans.

3. Chinatown

Heritage Vancouver says new developments around Chinatown are failing to fit with the neighbourhood’s intangible character.

4. Salvation Army Temple (1950)

The Salvation Army Temple is the last significant historic purpose-built assembly building in the Downtown Eastside.

5. St. Stephen’s United Church (1964)

St. Stephen’s United Church has been open since 1964 – but there are concerns it could soon be replaced by mid-rise developments.

6. Red Light District of Alexander Street

Heritage Vancouver says unique cluster of 1911-12 former brothels on Alexander Street are threatened by potential development pressure.

7. Commercial Drive

Image: Heritage Vancouver

Only seven of Commercial Drive’s buildings are listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register – and there are concerns development could create a dreary blandness in this vibrant area.

8. Townley & Matheson homes

Fred Townley and Robert Matheson designed exceptional Anglo-American style homes between the two World Wars, but Heritage Vancouver fears these could soon be lost.

9. Vancouver College (1924, 1927, 1957)

Heritage Vancouver is decrying the City’s current plans for upgrades to Vancouver College, which involve the demolition of three original historic Collegiate Gothic halls.

10. False Creek South

Heritage Vancouver says False Creek South is a historic urban landscape, but its future depends on the condition of housing stock that is now at risk.