Derilict in Dunbar

This house first came to my attention in January 2011 for two reasons: it had surveyor stakes, and it appeared to be rented. Note the window treatment and the dangling wires.

In 2014, the house and garden were spiffed up, and it sold in July. Note the 4040 address on the side. And the renters (or whoever) created a raised bed on the boulevard with an impressive number of vegetables.

A pink ogopogo came to visit.

The garden grew, producing tomatoes and other veggies; this view in September 2014.

The house remained, but the veggie plot was neglected. However, the kale reseeded and looked like this in the fall of 2015. 

In April 2016 the kale flowered, getting ready for another season, but the ogopogo slumped over.

In October 2016, the entire site was demolished, except for the boulevard raised bed, which succeeded in falling over on its own accord.

This demolition was probably welcomed by the neighbourhood. I wish that I had taken photos of the rear of the house because there was a large addition which I doubt would be allowed by today's bylaws. The place was totally derelict for many years. The backyard was an eyesore, being littered with broken down possessions of former residents. Unfortunately, in its better days, the large house was probably a low rental option for a quite a number of people, and that option is gone and will not return.

On West 35th Avenue

In 2014, this house was "Vancouver's most expensive teardown" at $3,038,000. It sold in 24 hours without a single viewing, all according to CBC News. The buyer was probably more attracted by the wide lot of 66 feet than this 1931 house. The following photos are from June 2014, December 2014, and July 31, 2016. Demolished early October 2016.

Continuing on 35th Avenue, this was the scene at 3608 on August 12, 2016.

Here are three views of this charming 1939 home on the corner of 35th and Dunbar, memorable because of its red metal roof. It appears to have sold in 2008, 2010, and 2016.

Comments on Vancouver Vanishes wondered whether the fig tree was spared. The one on the boulevard is still there!

A third one, at 3726 West 35th was torn down in June 2016. Here is a photo from January 2016 with a bag of salt on the porch. The demolition of this classic 1927 home has also been included in Vancouver Vanishes.

Houses of three different styles are gone. We can expect more demolitions on West 35th.

On a Quiet Street

You would not realize that this house was built in 1927 because renovations to "modernize" it must have reduced the size of the windows, and it probably had a wood shake siding. West 26th Avenue on the west side of Dunbar is only two blocks long and is a quiet street leading to Chaldecott Park. The first photo was taken in the summer of 2013 shortly after the house was sold. In the second photo taken August 3, 2016 shortly before the demolition, the empty lot to the right is visible, the former home of 3737 West 26th. Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of that house. Both of these lots are now construction sites.

Houses of this age were built with solid lumber. It is sad that these structures are considered only for demolition. If we had different zoning rules and less of a bottom line mentality, these two lots with a total 100 foot frontage, could contain several family- and neighbourhood-friendly townhouses, badly needed in the Dunbar area. There could be 12+ persons living there instead of zero.