Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Director of Current Planning

SUBJECT:

Heritage Designation:154 -156 East 7th Avenue (The Williams Block)

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

Council policy on heritage designation states, in part, that:

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval to add 154 -156 East 7th Avenue to the Vancouver Heritage Register in the "B" category and designate it as a Protected Heritage Property under Schedule A of the Heritage By-law.

BACKGROUND and SUMMARY

The building has been renovated insensitively several times in the past and is currently in fair to poor condition. The new owner has submitted Development Application DE405580 and BU417586 proposing to upgrade the building to comply with the Vancouver Building By-law. The building owner is volunteering to add this building to the Register and designate it in order to qualify for Alternative Compliance Methods for Heritage Buildings under Section 10.4 of the Vancouver Building By-law. As part of the proposal, the owner is prepared to restore the exterior of the building closer to its original 1910 configuration.

DISCUSSION

Heritage Value: The Williams Block is located near the historic heart of Mount Pleasant's commercial district at Main and Kingsway and was one of the first apartment buildings constructed (see Map, Appendix A - on file in the City Clerk's Office). Constructed in 1910 by Fred Williams, this building was described in the building permit register as a "brick veneer apartment house" and cost $6500. It was designed in the Edwardian Builder style and constitutes a typical wood-frame combined commercial store and apartment building from the period. Its design incorporates front and side bay windows and covered rear porches with intact period decorative brackets. The bay windows are detailed with brackets, trim and sheet metal bases. It was owned and occupied by the Williams family until 1949 and from 1936-1943 the store front housed a branch office of Canadian Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F.). Heritage staff and the Vancouver Heritage Commission both recommend the building be added to the Heritage Register in the B category based on the standard evaluation criteria.

Compatibility with Community Planning Objectives: The Williams Block is located in the C3-A Zoning District. The intent of District Schedule is to:

The proposal to restore the building and upgrade it to Building By-law compliance for commercial at grade and residential above is consistent with the zoning intent.

Zoning Considerations: Development Application DE405580 proposes to retain the existing building with no change of use nor additions. The Zoning and Development By-law thereforeallows the following existing non-conformities with respect to the C3-A District Schedule to remain:

Height: Permitted = 30.18 ft. outright (may be conditionally increase by the Development Permit Board)

Floor Area: Permitted = 2,200 sq. ft. (1.00 FSR) outright

Horizontal Angle of Required = 78.74 ft.
Daylight: (Distance) Existing = 10 ft.

Parking: Required = 5 spaces

* (The values are approximate)

Condition and Economic Viability: The building has been renovated several times and is currently in fair to poor condition. Alterations include the removal of the original cornice, windows, doors and storefront and the installation of vinyl siding and quarried slate rock. The owner has submitted Development Application DE405580 and BU417586 to upgrade the building to comply with the Vancouver Building By-law using Alternate Compliance Methods under Section 10.4 of the By-law. This provision is only applicable for building legally protected by a heritage by-law. In addition, the applications propose to restore the exterior of the building closer to its original configuration as can best be determined by site analysis and archival research. Recommendation "C" asks Council to require a covanant to ensure this restoration work is complete prior to the building being occupied.

The owner has determined the retention and restoration of the building as per the development permits to be economically viable.

Encroachments: This 1910 building was constructed with a number of character defining features that encroached onto public property: projecting bay windows that still remain and substantive cornices that were removed. To restore the building the applicant proposes to retain and restore the bay windows and reconstruct the key street facing portions of the missing cornice. A condition of Development Permit issuance is that the owner enters intoan encroachment agreement with the City and pays the established annual encroachment fee. Planning and Engineering staff have begun discussion in regards to amending policy to consider providing designated heritage building owners a relaxation of fees for encroaching heritage features. It is anticipated that staff will report to Council on this matter as part of the Gastown Management Plan. To keep the project economically viable, the owner and Planning staff have agreed the owner would replicate the cornice on the front street facade and turn the cornice for the first fifteen feet along both side elevations. If the encroachment fee policy is amended he is prepared reconstruct the entire cornice.

Support Required to Enable Conservation: The property owners have submitted a letter (on file with the Law Department) requesting the designation of 154 -156 East 7th Avenue and waiving any future compensation demands. Therefore, no additional support is required to achieve appropriate conservation of this building.

Vancouver Heritage Commission: On June 12, 2000, the Commission resolved that the Vancouver Heritage Commission recommends to Council that the Williams Block building at 154 East 7th Avenue has sufficient heritage merit to be added to the Vancouver Heritage Register as a Class "B" heritage building.

Notification: The Director of Legal Services has prepared the necessary Heritage By-law amendments and requirements have been met for notification as specified by the Vancouver Charter.

CONCLUSION

An important long-term heritage policy of the City is to protect heritage resources through designation. The owner of the Williams Block has proposed the heritage designation of the building on a voluntary basis. Designation of the building is compatible with community planning objectives and the zoning for the site. The owner has agreed the retention of the building to be economically viable and has agreed that he will not seek any compensation from the City in the future. Designation of the building will ensure that it is protected from inappropriate alterations or demolition in the future. Therefore, it is recommended that Council amend Schedule A of the Heritage By-law to designate 154 -156 East 7th Avenue as a Protected Heritage Property.

- - - - -

Appendix A
Site Map

* * * * *

ph010410.htm

Comments or questions? You can send us email.
[City Homepage] [Get In Touch]

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver