Welcome to our 15th Annual Top10 Watch List. Vancouver is a growing, vibrant and dynamic city, but the rush for new development can present major challenges in the conservation of significant aspects of out historic legacy. This year we see new threats, old threats and recurring threats to our built heritage.
One issue that we thought was resolved, which reappeared in a surprise announcement, was St. Paul’s Hospital, slated to remain on its historic site and now suddenly on the move again, throwing the future of the landmark Burrard Building into question, again.
Many of our heritage schools continue to be threatened, with no apparent resolution on some of the most important sites.
The Heritage Amenity Bank – one of our most important heritage incentives – remains frozen, and unavailable. New development in historic neighbourhoods can be inappropriate and destructive of existing character. The high rate of demolitions across the city continues.
But it’s not all grim news. 2015 is also the year of the Heritage Action Plan, the City’s major initiative to overhaul the aging Heritage Conservation Program. Heritage Vancouver has been a major participant in this discussion through its Shaping Vancouver series, and we look forward to the launch of the Heritage Register Update on May 23rd. There are many ways to participate in this process and we look forward to seeing you at our tours, lectures and events in support of the Heritage Action Plan.
We look forward to working with the community in the upcoming year to have some heritage wins in Vancouver.
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
