About
In May, the Globe and Mail published a story on four houses owned by the Davis family put up for sale. The Vancouver Sun followed in early June with an article The most beautiful block in Vancouver is for sale. The four houses are well known as part of a larger block of heritage houses on East Tenth Avenue between Manitoba and Columbia. Some will be familiar with the story of the Davis family and their care taking and ownership of the houses for 52 years.
The Davis family had purchased a number of the houses starting in the 1970s on the block which were being advertised as lots to be demolished and redeveloped on.The houses were not in good condition, requiring upgrading and repairs. But the Davis family worked on the houses themselves, restoring them over time, and dividing the houses into multi-unit suites for renters. They borrowed money and bought more houses on the block and repaired them, maintaining a pristine set of Victorian and Edwardian houses as a beautiful inviting experience of the street. They continue to take great pride in caring for both the interior and exteriors of the houses along with the streetscape There are reports that the Davis family has maintained affordable rents for their tenants.
The houses are in the Broadway Plan area which is zoned for towers. They also have municipal heritage designation; the Vancouver Sun article on the sale has general remarks from the City of Vancouver suggesting that the likelihood of demolition is low. The realtor has also said that he sees the buyer being more interested in owning rental properties
Why on Top10
Nowadays, the topic of heritage and character houses in the context of development in the city often sparks controversy. Social media may not be a true representation of real life but this Reddit thread on the Globe and Mail’s opinion piece about these four houses being put up for sale shows the typical criticisms over the topic of heritage or old houses that have played out in many situations involving houses and development: that they are exclusive and for the rich, that they are an inefficient use of space, that to say anything positive about houses can invite charges of being uncaring and not understanding the need for towers. For sure, some of the negative reaction and joy expressed in the possible destruction of the houses is due to the association of heritage with NIMBYISM. The thread also has an interesting back and forth about appreciating the houses for what they are.
Heritage building lovers adore the materials, craftsmanship, design styles of heritage and character houses. But it is increasingly difficult for many people to have a chance to see or to have a direct tactile experience, especially from the inside, in order to grow that appreciation.
Houses are private, and unless you reside in one or have regular access to one, it becomes much harder for someone to develop an appreciation for or connection to it. The cost makes it increasingly uncommon for younger couples -or many people- to purchase an old house as a “starter” home.
This collection of houses is likely one of the best ways for the public to see historic houses in the city because of the visual impact of how conspicuous and well taken care of they are, and how close a person walking by is (and maybe even cyclists) to the houses. Ironically, the greatest public contribution by the Davis’ is also one of the most difficult challenges in this city for older heritage or character houses. The Davis’ had a love for the houses and their block that led them to take them on as their responsibility and invest in their appearance for others to enjoy, invest in local history, and invest in the rental community of their neighbourhood. Cultivating generations who have this love but will also have the money is tremendously difficult part of heritage house preservation.
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia
