10. Jericho Beach Marginal Wharf [Lost]

This is one of the last vestiges of the Jericho Seaplane Base, a hive of activity during WWII.

In 1976, shortly after transfer to the city, the base briefly sprung to life as Habitat Forum, with railings for the wharf provided by the 1938 guard rails from the Lions Gate Bridge, whose north deck had recently been replaced.

The parks board, which has provided little or no maintenance, wants to spend money to demolish rather than rehabilitate the wharf.

Updates

Update July 5, 2011: Jericho Wharf is to be demolished, erasing one of the last remnants of Vancouver’s military history on the waterfront.

> Vancouver Park’s Board – Project information

Update May 19, 2011: The Park Board hosted a second Open House on May 18, 2011 at Jericho Sailing Centre, 1300 Discovery St. from 5pm to 8pm.

Update April 12, 2011: The Park Board held an Open House on April 12th, 2011 at the Sailing Center for the community to review the proposed changes to the affected area of Jericho beach once the Wharf has been demolished. Nine boards were posted for public scrutiny, describing the proposed solutions to the problems with the existing wharf. The history of the site was included in the presentation with an emphasis on the site’s early history and the natural setting of Vancouver’s first airport.

Update November 15, 2010: After the Wharf has been allowed to deteriorate over the years, to the point where it has become a threat to public safety, the Vancover Park Board has decided that demolition was the best alternative, without an objective assessment of heritage value or historical significance.

Update November 15, 2010: The Vancouver Park Board has voted unanimously in favour of scrapping the historic Jericho Marginal Wharf and has set aside $2 million for the demolition, which should be complete by summer 2011.

Update April 13, 2006: Urgent in the Parks Capital Plan budget is the possible demolition of this wharf, one of the last remaining structures from the former Jericho Seaplane Base.