An upscale, tony neighbourhood in Vancouver has been given the distinction of becoming the city’s first Heritage Conservation Area by City Council today.
First Shaughnessy District, an area between West 16th and King Edward and Arbutus and Oak Streets, was developed in the early 1900s and contains a large collection of pre-1940 character homes. The historic neighbourhood sports homes in the neo-Tudor, Federal Colonial, and Arts and Crafts styles.
The council said today’s decision is a move toward preserving and protecting heritage homes in Vancouver.
“First Shaughnessy is one of our most historic neighbourhoods, and in a city as young as Vancouver it’s important that we protect its unique heritage,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson in a statement.
“By designating First Shaughnessy as Vancouver’s first Heritage Conservation Area, we are taking a balanced approach that will prevent the demolition of these historic homes while providing new opportunities to add very modest density where appropriate.”
Along with preventing demolition, the proposed new regulations will allow the heritage homes to have secondary suites and coach houses.
There are 595 properties in First Shaughnessy with 315 of the homes constructed before 1940. Currently there are 60 Heritage Conservation Areas in B.C. with nine of them in Victoria.
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