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, June 30, 2013

First House on this Site


Built in 1916 but obviously renovated over the years with a dormer added and more, on this 50 foot lot. For sale in June 2012 for over 2 million and torn down April or May 2013. Also featured on Vancouver Vanishes. 3866 West 18th Avenue.

Monday, June 24, 2013

4490 Blenheim


It was difficult to determine the age of this house, perhaps a remodel of an older one.  Although on a large corner lot, it took a long time to sell but then was quickly torn down, in May 2013.  4490 Blenheim Street.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Candy Cane House

In early January 2011, this candy cane was still celebrating Christmas, but there were signs that the house, built in 1945, would be torn down.
 Early February--is that a flowering witch hazel?
By February 23, the house was gone, but the candy cane still stands!

The new house was completed in 2012, and it is currently for sale in June 2013. Perhaps if the candy cane was included it would sell...

Friday, June 14, 2013

Derelict in Dunbar

Unfortunately, this house, with "good bones",  was already derelict when it was put up for sale in February 2011.
 I kept walking by, expecting a demolition, but it did not happen. This window detail is from October 2011.
Since the house was on a corner, the rear was easy to observe and photograph. I saw evidence of an oil tank being removed, but a problem ensued, the house became increasingly unkempt, and it was again put up for sale in early 2013.  It was finally torn down in May 2013.  4911 Collingwood, on the corner with West 33rd Avenue.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Four Demolitions in Early 2013



For sale in March 2012, and according to a neighbour down the block, scheduled for demolition on July 31.  However the demolition did not occur until late January or early February 2013.  The house was next to the lane behind Collingwood Street at 3511 West 32nd Avenue.
This gracious traditional home was built in 1928 on a large lot (60x140 feet) without a lane at the back, at 3425 West 35th Avenue.  It was sold in February 2011 and torn down in January or February 2013.

Torn down between March 4 and 15, 2013.  This photo was taken on March 3.  To see what the house looked like in its better days, see the Vancouver Vanishes site.  This lovely home was built in 1940 at 3554 West 37th.

Another one on 37th Avenue, but west of Dunbar near the Pacific Spirit Park, at 4086.  The house was for sale in early 2012. This photo taken February 22, 2013 was just prior to its demolition, probably in early March.