The Nicest House on the Block

Yes, in my view, this was the nicest house on the 3800 block of West 31st Avenue, a block that looks out on Memorial Park West. It was one of the original houses, built in 1937, and a well-kept example of the houses of that era.

The house sold in February 2015 and was demolished on September 24, 2015. The latest assessment of the buildings on this lot was $261,000. That amount indicates that the interior had been remodeled and probably there was an addition at the rear. In contrast some 1930's houses in this neighbourhood are assessed at less than one tenth of that amount. Aside from the skylights, the front of this house retained its 1930's look. This is a loss to the character of the Dunbar community.

Marketed with "As Is, Where Is"

This split-entry house, similar to a Vancouver Special, was built in 1973 on Wallace Street facing the heavily wooded part of Memorial Park West.

For sale April 2013. Sold May 2013.

 For sale January 2014 and sold again.

 For sale July 2015 and sold yet again. This is getting boring.

 

At Christmas time 2014, someone got bored with the surveyer's stake and decided to do something interesting, fitting the marker out with a miniature Santa suit! Probably illegal since it is City property, but fun.

I think the house stood vacant for well over two years. The backyard was a dump. One day when walking by on the lane, I chatted with a nearby neighbour who couldn't wait for the blighted site to be cleaned up.

Walking by today, September 18, I saw that the house had been demolished, with broken glass on the former front steps and sidewalk.

The Last Seasons for a House

This house was torn down on August 24 or 25, 2015. It was for sale in February 2012, as was the one next door.
 

That was over three years ago. I captured photos in 2014 during spring, summer, and winter.

Being demolished is the fate of more and more of these 1950 houses built on the 4000 blocks of West 27th, 28th, 29th 30th, and 31st Avenues. This one is at 4049 West 30th. I am waiting for the next shoe to drop (i.e., the house just to the east of this one).