Vancouver’s second oldest house is one step closer to demolition:

One of the oldest houses in Vancouver will likely be torn down. News 1130 reports that a permit application to demolish the wood frame heritage home at 502 Alexander Street in Japantown was recently submitted to the City of Vancouver. The small, wood-frame home was built in 1888 by Irish settler John Baptist Henderson, a carpenter and pioneer who became one the city’s first architects.

The imminent demise of this important structure has local historians up in arms as many argue that this house is a prime candidate for preservation. Heritage Vancouver is on record as stating that it would be a truly unfortunate outcome if one of the oldest houses in the city is torn down:

\"Our earliest buildings are the story of Vancouver being carved out of the wilderness. This house dates from the time when the train was just arriving and the city was growing – there was nothing here when this house was built.\"

The challenge that is facing this historic site is simple – the home is located outside of the designated heritage districts of Gastown and Chinatown, so there are limited financial resources available to preserve the building. Without private sector money, saving this house and those like it is becoming increasingly difficult.

As the wrecking ball continues to erase important physical memories of our urban evolution, I for one, believe that funds should be allocated to preserve important structures outside of designated heritage spaces so that we continue to have a record of our past for future generations.

We want to know what you think: how can the city strike a balance between heritage conversation and the need for urban growth and development? Share your thoughts on our Facebook Page.

Kim Robertson