Primarily Land Value

"Primarily land value" is what the real estate listing for this house stated in June 2013. That is a redundant statement for the Dunbar area because  houses themselves are valued very little unless built in this century or in the last years of the previous century. I took this photo in early December. The house at 3569 West 18th was torn down in late December 2013 or early January 2014.

East of Dunbar Street on 38th Avenue

These two demolitions took place on the same block. The first house was for sale in March 2013. From the photo you will agree with the statement in the real estate ad that the "house needs extensive repair." The roofing is rustic, for one thing. This house, on a corner at 3506 West 38th Avenue, was  torn down in December 2013.

I've been watching this house for 3 years! It appeared to be headed for demolition, but first a lane house was constructed. This photo was taken in December 2010, the following photo in April 2011. It was torn down in 2013, and today it is 3 dwellings: 3524 and 3526 and 3528.

Here is a link to a February 6, 2012 article in the Vancouver Courier that focused on the 3500 block of West 38th Avenue.

Goodbye to Most of the Vegetation

The contrast between Google Street's summer photo and my November 2013 photo is evident.

A home that was loved by an owner for 30 years was put up for sale in mid 2012. It is reassuring to see that some of the vegetation got dug up and moved to a new home, even if the house itself was about to disappear completely. 

This is what it looked like the "day after", with an attempt to save a tree and a bush. Thanks to a neighbour who alerted me to this demolition at 3339 West 27th Avenue occurring on January 16, 2014.

Dunbar Lake

The Dunbar area now has a lake-side playground, complete with a small sandy beach.

It's a beautiful lake-in-the-woods.

This is a change from all the demolition photos!

Remembering 3441 West 33rd Avenue

All these houses have a history. Here is an email that I received about a recent demolition:

I am a retired librarian too, living in Portland, Oregon.  I lived in 3441 W 33rd from third grade until I completed the first two years at UBC.  My parents sold it a few years later.  I drove by the property just after Christmas, like I always do when I am in Vancouver, and was shocked -- that it was gone.  After all these years I still consider that house to be "home."  Thank you for documenting the demolition of this house and others in Dunbar.  I am in a state of grief about all the old houses being torn down in the Dunbar area.

The blog post for this house was published on November 26, 2013.

Happy New Year

Do we really want to start out a fresh new year with a scene like this?

 Here is what the missing house looked like in December 2013:

 

Other than the added dormers, these two neighbour houses are mirror images of each other.

Now the "twin" stands alone.

The house on the left (4719 Collingwood) was likely torn down in late December 2013.