The New Replacement Houses

There is a new blog created by someone who is concerned about the size of the houses replacing the ones that are demolished. You can access it at Yet Another Monster House.

The Chickens Had to Move

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, the houses on the side streets nearest Dunbar Street are generally the oldest ones in the area. This 1928 cottage is a typical example. But not only did the occupants (likely renters) of the attractive basement suite and the main floor have to leave, but the backyard chickens lost their home and pecking grounds. The house sold quickly in August or September 2015.

During my walks, I never saw more than two chickens.

 This hen is pondering her future.

In August it appeared from the state of the back yard, that the residents were clearing out and preparing to move.

In November 2015 there was a municipal election. The one NPA sign and one Cedar sign did not have much of a chance with all those Green signs.

Here is another "bird" who had to find a new home. This one lived in the front yard. Clearly, creative people lived in the house, and I wonder where they moved. East Van?

The chicken house got dismantled, and the back yard eventually did get cleared out, but are those old paint cans in the garage? Vancouver Vanishes was concerned about toxics.

This house was demolished sometime between May 21 and June 21, 2015. Possibly a lane house will be built on this lot bordering two lanes. What is lost? Green space, local fresh eggs, an original Dunbar house, and likely an inexpensive place to live for two interesting families.

One Less Vancouver Special

On the corner of West 31st Avenue and Wallace next to the park, there used to be a lovely home on a large lot. In the mid 70's, it was torn down and replaced by three Vancouver specials. Now these replacement houses are falling, one by one. This is the second one. On the left in these two photos, you can see a tiny view of the first (now gone) Vancouver special and its replacement. There is a blog about that one here. This second one was sold in November 2012 and has looked neglected ever since. Since the third one in the row also looks somewhat neglected, I'm prepared to see it disappear, although it has not been on the market. And the next house, an original one, has been sold recently...so I'm wondering if eventually there will be four new houses in a row.

 

Demolished May 21, 2015. What I find mystifying is that the BC Assessments for these remaining two Vancouver Special buildings (not the land) have each increased by approximately $15,000 in the 2014 assessment, despite their neglected states.