Historic Shaughnessy mansion gets temporary protection for another 120 days

UPDATE: The Vancouver City Council has voted to approve an order for the temporary protection for the mansion for 120 days to allow time for completion of a heritage evaluation and an assessment to determine the feasibility of retaining the house.

The City of Vancouver is taking the first steps to protect a 1922 Shaughnessy mansion from demolition after a plan to tear down the historic house came to light earlier this year, causing public outcry.

The home, located at 1550 West 29 Ave., was put up for sale in March with a price tag of $7.4 million and a demolition permit application in the works. Fences were put up around the property, enraging neighbours lamenting the ongoing destruction of older character homes in Vancouver’s Point Grey and Shaughnessy neighbourhoods.

But the property may no longer be doomed, according to a release from the City of Vancouver. A heritage inspection of the property has been ordered with the purpose of assessing the heritage value and character of the home. If the property passes inspection, it may merit heritage conservation status.

“We heard very clearly from the public their concerns regarding the potential loss of the historic ‘Electric House’,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson in a statement.

“Granting temporary heritage protection to this property is an important first step that gives the city time to properly assess its heritage value and character, and I look forward to staff reporting back later this month on next steps.”

The inspection order extends the home’s lifespan by at least another 30 days. This is the first time the city has ordered a Heritage Inspection as part of the new Heritage Procedure By-law brought into effect in September, 2015.

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The 94 year-old house was designed by architects Townley & Matheson, who also designed Vancouver City Hall. According to a 1922 article in Vancouver Daily World, the home was intended to be built as an “ultra modern residence” show-home to display how electricity could be incorporated into homes of the future. It was later dubbed “The Electric House”.

While the house was previously up for sale with The Faith Wilson Group, it can no longer be found on their website. A YouTube video marketing the property, however, targets its tear-down potential and includes architectural drawings for a new 7,000 square-foot luxury home with an indoor pool, five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a four car garage.