Letters to The Sun: Vancouver treats most heritage buildings as 'inconveniences'

Opinion: Vancouver treats most heritage buildings as 'inconveniences'.

Published Jan 07, 2025  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

500 Dunsmuir in Vancouver pictured in 2021 Photo by Francis Georgian /PNG

Re: As hundreds of derelict buildings sit empty, Vancouver is tasked with solving ‘frustrating’ problem

One weekday afternoon, I parked on Broadway at 2:57 p.m., not realizing that my vehicle had to be moved by 3 p.m. in order to make way for rush-hour traffic. It took the City of Vancouver less than five minutes to tow my car. Despite being so quick to act on the most innocent of parking violations, apparently nobody at City Hall happened to notice a massive heritage building rotting into oblivion in the middle of the downtown core over the past 12 years. Somehow, it seems, that just snuck under the radar.

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City of Vancouver councillors have been quick to point the blame entirely at Holborn Properties. Forgive me if I seem unconvinced. To be sure, Holborn is far from innocent in this case as they have indeed neglected the building for far too long. But the unfortunate fate of 500 Dunsmuir is also a symptom of a much bigger problem in the City of Vancouver.

Rather than viewing heritage buildings as rare and precious windows into our city’s past, they are most often treated as inconveniences, standing in the way of more of those prized glass towers. It’s a sickness that has afflicted this city for the better part of four decades, although it has progressed in severity with time.

I admit I do not possess the knowledge of a building inspector or technical prowess of a contractor, but I do know that buildings around the world in far worse shape than 500 Dunsmuir have been brought back from the brink. Granted, it takes time, investment, effort, vision, and most importantly respect for the past — but it can be done. Unfortunately for this rare example of early 20th-century architecture, it appears all of these elements are sorely lacking in Metro Vancouver council chambers.

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Shame on Vancouver, shame on the developer and shame on any culture that allows things like this to happen. At least Vancouverites can console themselves with old black-and-white pictures of what was. Pretty soon, that’s all they will have.

Jeffrey Watts, Vancouver

Disappointed that Trudeau will still be head of government for months

Re: Justin Trudeau resigns: How will it impact B.C.? And other questions

The majority of Canadians are glad that Trudeau is finally going to quit, but he didn’t quit today. He will resign only when they will pick another leader. Which means he is still the head of the government for a few more months. Big disappointment.

Secondly, he should have called an election and let the Canadian public decide the future of Canada, and not leave it up to the Liberal Party of Canada to decide when and if an election will be called. Trudeau is desperately hoping that the Liberal party will select Mark Carney, who will turn their fortunes around and, if not form the next government, will at least avoid the decimation they so richly deserve.

Jim Church, Kelowna

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Clinical trials super hub at B.C. Children’s hospital an amazing accomplishment

Re: Kitamaat toddler’s life saved thanks to clinical trials at B.C. Children’s Hospital

What an amazing accomplishment by Dr. Quynh Doan and her team in establishing the clinical trials super hub at B.C. Children’s Hospital. This will save so many lives. However, it is absolutely deplorable that the government did not prioritize this endeavour. Luckily, the Children’s Hospital Foundation did.

Sadly, it is typical of this NDP government to get their priorities all wrong and now we can look forward to four more years of begging others to pay for what the government should be funding with our tax dollars.

Patricia Gray, Roberts Creek

Politics is not just about name recognition

Re: Why Canadian journalists are entering politics at a rapid rate

I think more critical skills than “having name recognition and being an expert in getting across a message” are “being able to recognize good public policies and being able to talk to power to improve public policy.”

You need the people who hold the conviction that like a rising tide lifts all boats, good public policies benefit the majority and not the top one per cent.

John Consiglio, Vancouver

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