Changing Streetscape

This is a typical house built in the Dunbar area (and in other areas of Vancouver) in the 1930's; this one was built in 1930 on a 50x130.25 foot lot. It was advertised for sale in February 2013 as a "level building lot". In the first photo, the house sits in its context of diversity--the two houses on either side are replacement houses. The one on the left was built in 2011; the one on the right, 1987.

It is interesting to compare the values of the three houses (using the BC Assessments). On the left, the buildings are worth $1,359,000. On the right, the buildings are worth $434,000. The one in the middle is worth $27,500. Since the three lots are identical, the land value is identical, just over $2 million. Obviously, the one in the middle has considerably less interior space, approximately half the space of the others. 

 I did not have a photo of the original house on the left because it was torn down prior my collecting data for this website. However, a neighbour living near there had taken photos of houses in her area, and she kindly lent me her file to use, so here is the original 3869 West 34th Avenue house:

Regarding the house on the right, it was torn down before Google Street View, so it would be difficult to obtain a photo of it. It's GONE.

With this second photo from August, I've included a detail of the roof to show that the house needed work, no doubt quite a lot inside and outside. When a small and decaying house with this kind of low-key charm is torn down, does the neighbourhood lose something?

Torn down prior to September 18, 2014. Address: 3861 West 34th Avenue.

A 50's Bungalow Will Be Replaced With a New Dwelling

Most of the houses in this area that I call the "50's area" are modest one storey bungalows built for middle class families. This house is a bit larger, with its tiny second storey, but it was probably added later, maybe 1960. The property was sold in February 2013 for over $2.5 million and looked like this in March 2013:

In June 2014, it appeared a bit more neglected, likely being empty since it was sold and maybe before. The untamed plants threatened to engulf the house.

Torn down September 15, 2014. The untamed plants and the tree are gone. The surprise is that as of September 17, 2014, the empty lot is now for sale for $3.22 million.

Yet Another 50's Bungalow Has Disappeared

After nearly 39 years of looking out our front windows across the street and seeing the same house, this is pretty traumatic. Of course, we knew it was coming. Very few of these 50's bungalows get bought by anyone who isn't set on tearing it down and building something much larger with a second storey. It is also heartrending because we were very fond of the neighbours who lived there for many years; in fact, they were key people in the neighbourhood, helping to organize the July 1 block party and involved at the Dunbar Community Centre. One small example of their supportive presence in the neighbourhood is that they held keys to a number of nearby houses because they looked after them while the occupants were away. Their house and garden were very well cared for. I'm doing a more detailed chronology than I usually do because of the house's proximity to mine.

 October 2013: sold

Later in October: foggy fall scene

 

November 2013: pink sunset

February 2014: with view of mountains

June 2014: the lawn has dried up due to no watering and some boxwood, other plants, and the trellis have disappeared

 

August 24, 2014: the lawn is even drier, all the boxwood has gone, and orange protective fencing has been installed

August 28, 2014: during the previous several days, the drywall was removed, and the workers left the windows open

August 28, 2014: mid afternoon, the excavator arrived

 A huge truck arrived to take the debris to the landfill.

  

August 28, 2014: at the end of the day

On August 29, the well-built garage was demolished. The demolition company separated all the concrete and sent it off in large trucks.

The one good thing about this demolition is that I was not home to have to witness it because I was planting a herb garden some 20 blocks away. Thanks to my husband who took photos of this demolition at 4085 West 31st Avenue.