ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: September 15, 1999
Author/Local: GMcGeough/7091
RTS No. 00999
CC File No. 1401-14

Public Hearing: October 5, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Current Planning
SUBJECT:	Heritage Designation of 2640 Oxford Street

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approves the designation of 2640 Oxford Street, listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register in the “C” category, as a protected heritage property.

B. THAT Council commends the building owners for designating their property on a voluntary basis and for participating in the Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s True Colours project.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.

COUNCIL POLICY

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

“The City’s long term goal is to protect through voluntary designation as many resources on the Vancouver Heritage Register as possible.”

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council’s approval for the designation of 2640 Oxford Street, listed in the “C” category on the Heritage Register, as a protected heritage property under Schedule A of the Heritage By-law. The building owners are requesting the heritage designation of
2640 Oxford Street on a voluntary basis.

BACKGROUND

Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s first grant and education program is “True Colours”. With the assistance of Benjamin Moore Paints and Dunbar Lumber the Foundation is providing owners funding and expertise to restore the authentic colour scheme of heritage homes true to the period. To receive the grant the Foundation requires the house be municipally designated. One of the five recipients previously designated their house. The four other recipients, including this recipient, are now seeking Council approval to designate.

DISCUSSION

Heritage Value: 2640 Oxford Street is listed in the ‘C’ category on the Vancouver Heritage Register. This one and a half story house constitutes part of a cluster of Craftsman-style homes built along Oxford Street in 1918, after Hastings townsite became amalgamated into the City of Vancouver during the war-years. Tightly placed on a small yard, the “C” classified building is a front-gabled sub-type of the Craftsman style so popular in Vancouver during the first two decades of the twentieth century. 2640 Oxford Street features a low-pitched gable roof with a full-width porch sheltered under the main roof. A cornice with dentil banding separates the Tudor-inspired half-timbering on the gable end and the supporting sloped (battered) columns that sit atop of shingled piers. A wooden balustrade spans the space between the piers. It is a good example of the modest buildings erected after the 1913-1915 depression precipitated by World War One.

Compatibility with Community Planning Objectives: The house is located in the RS-1S Zoning District. The intent of the RS-1S District Schedule is to maintain the single-family residential character of the district. Heritage designation of 2640 Oxford Street will ensure that the single-family character of the existing house is retained. This is consistent with community planning objectives as defined in the RS-1S Zoning District Schedule.

Zoning Considerations: The house is currently occupied as a single-family residence which is a permitted use under RS-1S zoning. There is no development permit application for this site.

Condition and Economic Viability: The house is in good condition. The owners have determined the retention of the building in its present use to be economically viable.

Support Required to Enable Conservation: The property owners have submitted a letter (on file with the Law Department) requesting the designation of 2640 Oxford Street and waiving any future compensation demands. Therefore, no additional support to achieve appropriate conservation of this building is required.

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 owners of 2640 Oxford Street have proposed the heritage designation of the building on a voluntary basis. Designation of this house is compatible with community planning objectives and the zoning for the site. Furthermore, the owners participation in the True Colours program for which designation is required for the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, will help create greater awareness about historic paint schemes in the city. The owners have agreed the retention of the building to be economically viable and they have agreed that they 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 2640 Oxford Street as a Protected Heritage Property.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver