Hallmark Heritage Society - Breaking News About The Heritage & History Of Greater Victoria - January 2021

Heritage Designation of 2536 Richardson Road

Heritage Designation of 2536 Richmond Road

In November, the City of Victoria Heritage Advisory Panel recommended that the Council designate the home at 2536 Richmond Road. The House, constructed in 1906 for Garfield Vye, has been carefully restored by owners Don Hutton and Sheena Bellingham, both active Hallmark and community members. Full designation will be completed before Spring.

Above photo is from the 1977 University of Victoria Heritage House Survey

Additional information is available through the button below which takes you to the Hallmark web page for the address.

Link to Information.

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The historic house at 785 Island Road in Oak Bay is no more. The subject of much discussion by Oak Bay Council which resulted in the decision not to designated was partially deconstructed and then demolished earlier this month. Some elements were salvaged.

This house was lost because local governing bodies are concerned about the unknown costs of designating without the consent of the property owner, a question that should be clarified by the Province of British Columbia or some expert in property law

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The photo below, on the left, shows the old warehouses on the west side of the 1200 block Wharf Street in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

In 1974 the City of Victoria issued a demolition permit for the buildings but quickly rescinded it after the Province purchased the vacant property to the south and placed a stay on development along the waterfront (there were rumours of a Holiday Inn being built on the vacant property).

The owner of 1200 Wharf worked out a rehabilitation plan for the buildings resulting in a modest rooftop addition and the active retail and business centre now known as Hartwig Court as seen in today's photo on the right.

In 1974, we had a City Councilor and others saying the buildings were ugly warehouses and should be torn down. Fortunately, wiser heads prevailed. We hope the same vision and imagination can prevail for the Goldrush Warehouses at the end of Wharf Street next to the bridge.

Read online here.