Breaking News About the Heritage & History of Greater Victoria
WILL THE BANK STREET SCHOOL BE DEMOLISHED?
CITY COUNCIL SEEKING INPUT
At last Thursday's meeting of the City of Victoria Committee of the Whole, the question of the possible demolition of the Bank Street School at the corner of Bank Street and Leighton Road was discussed.
School District 61 proposes to demolish the Heritage Registered building designed by architect David Couper Frame and constructed in 1910.
The School District has neglected the maintenance on this building having allowed it to go into a state of decay. There has been no major maintenance since the mid-1970s. Like most buildings of its era it contains asbestos and lead based paints. The School District estimates it would cost more to restore the building than to build a new, replacement structure.
City Council could designate building against the owner's wishes but are fearful of being faced with litigation costs even though there could be no loss of property values on the school property and the existing building, by the School District's own admission, has little value. School District 61 never purchased the property and, should at some future date, the School District ever leave property, it would revert to the City of Victoria.
The local community, The South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association, is against the demolition. They value the history and heritage aspects of the building. They are currently seeking input from the local neighbourhood so, if you live in the neighbourhood, we strongly suggest you contact your neighbourhood association and express your opinion and that you email the city council and tell them if you wish this building to be preserved.
The School District currently have no plans for the property. They just want to demolish it. They will probably put up another parking lot.
But unless action is taken quickly, they can apply for a demolition permit and, once the application is in, there is little that can be done.
Now is the time for action. Write or email the city councillors and tell them that you want this building saved or at least more action taken to determine its value. Contact the South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association and tell them you want this building saved.
The building, once restored, with harmful materials removed and with a sensitive addition of an elevator, could serve for another hundred years as a neighbourhood building, as a community centre, as a childcare centre.
Contact the South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association at: board@southjubilee.ca
Contact Mayor & Council at: mayorandcouncil@victoria.ca
The issue in Oak Bay regarding the property at 785 Island Road is interesting. The property is currently nearing the end of a long period of negotiation that seems to have started off with a possible Heritage Revitalization Agreement that would have seen the house preserved and an additional lot created. But Oak Bay and the property owner could not resolve the cost issues related to the creation of the additional lot.
As a result, the property owner wishes to demolish the historic house and redevelop the property. Oak Bay is now in the situation of either approving the demolition or designating the house a heritage property against the wishes of the owner.
To designate the house against the wishes of the owner may leave Oak Bay is liable to compensate the property owner for losses. Unfortunately, for the Oak Bay Council, these losses are vague and ill-defined and are a threat.
As a result of that threat, Oak Bay Council voted against moving the question of designating the house to a public hearing, leaving the demolition of the property open to future negotiations or, to the actual demolition. A protection period of sixty days will soon expire. Hopefully, the two parties can come together again and discuss the Heritage Revitalization Agreement.
Everyone on the Oak Bay Council seem to agree that the house had heritage significance and was worth saving. Unfortunately, they cannot agree that it is worth designating against the wishes of the owner.
The question of which house should or could be designated against the wishes of the owner is a difficult one to resolve and, if the Oak Bay Council feels that they are lacking in expertise in forming the basis of such a decision, they should seek expert help before allowing this house or future buildings to disappear.
Perhaps Oak Bay and other government bodies need to find a way to evaluate the possible costs of enforced designation - at the least a Class D estimate.
Further details regarding the property can be seen through the LINK button below.
Morley Soda Factory - Waddington Alley - LeFevre & Company
The question of the massive four-story building being imposed on the top of the modest, one-story, Goldrush Warehouses (Northern Junk) at 1314-1316 Wharf St., is still open pending a future City of Victoria Public Hearing.
It is interesting to note that local developer of Old Town properties, Chris LeFevre has, over the past twenty or so years, managed to redevelop historic downtown buildings, adding residential units within and above these buildings without placing upon them the crushing overload that we see proposed for the Goldrush Warehouses.
Chris LeFevre has added 154 residential units to Old Town Victoria and won architectural and heritage awards for the sensitive manner in which he has done so.
Victoria City Council should take a careful look at these and consider what they are possibly going to approve at the public hearing for the Goldrush Warehouses at 1314-1316 Wharf Street. They must expect better and they should demand it.
Recent newspaper articles cited Old Town as being a great generator of revenue for the city. It is so because of its architectural beauty and magnetism for tourists. Here, at the edge of the ocean and in the heart of Old Town is where the future lies.
That is part of Victoria Vision 3.0. The current proposal will damage the tourism portion of that vision.
USE YOUR VOICE - LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.