The housing stock in the Dunbar area of Vancouver has undergone significant change in the past five years. Originally a working class neighbourhood with many quite modest homes surrounded by lovely gardens, it is now a neighbourhood that 99% of the people working in Vancouver cannot afford because the replacement homes are built to the maximum footprint and cost millions. Greenspace has been reduced. Included on this website are photos of many (not all) of the disappeared houses.
View Teardowns in the Dunbar area of Vancouver, BC in a larger map

Demolitions West of the Dunbar Community Centre

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Overlooking Chaldecott Park


Most houses in Vancouver are on east-west streets, but this one and the one next door have a special setting, facing west over the long expanse of Chaldecott Park. The house appeared to be from the 50's and was not in as good condition as many houses that get torn down. My records indicate that it was listed for sale for $1,238,000, a price now unheard of in Dunbar, perhaps because the lot is small. Although it has a wide frontage, it is shallow. Note that the white stake is quite near the house, indicating that much of what appears to be a front lawn and plantings is in fact owned by the City.



The house was demolished a few days prior to March 15. A Dunbar resident, Robert Gordon, was on the spot shortly thereafter and took this photo. He reported that neighbours said that the house was demolished quickly.


On March 26, barely 2 weeks after it was torn down, the foundation was well underway. Most of the plantings at the front of the lot have disappeared under the typical mound of soil despite the initial protective red fencing. This half block lacks a sidewalk on both sides of the street, so perhaps the City will construct a sidewalk.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Demolition of 3793 West 23rd Avenue in Dunbar (with Video)

A Dunbar resident, Angus McIntyre, was present at the demolition of this house on September 29, 2010. (It is featured in my blog of February 7, 2011, and two houses are being constructed on the site.) These photos of the demolition itself are poignant, and I thank Angus for making them available for the blog.




Note the tree that got ripped out in its entirety.


Angus was able to take this interior shot on the day of the demolition. Obviously, this house contained many heritage features. Except for one bathtub, everything was trashed, including most of the major appliances.
If your heart and blood pressure are healthy, take a look at this YouTube video from Angus. Discretion is advised... VIDEO

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Collapse on Collingwood

I was not present at this demolition which took place on Saturday, March 5, but Jan Hers, a Dunbar resident, was there with his camera and kindly agreed to have his photos featured here. This house is probably from the 1920's, and as you will see, was a tough and strong house.

The excavator began working at the back of the house.
Despite much of the back of the house being torn down, the front of the house and the porch remain intact.

A view from the rear--note that the front part of the house still stands despite much of the house being down.
But the excavator won out. Returning to the lot on the corner of Collingwood and West 20th on March 10, this is what I saw: