Read the full post, & if you can please email Director of Building Policy, who  hastily chose demolition over recommendations from engineers to restore and preserve the building.  (saul.schwebs@vancouver.ca)

On Dec 19th 2024, Director of Building Policy ordered 'The Dunsmuir House' - a 110 year old heritage building at 500 Dunsmuir Street to be bulldozed between January 17-19.  It’s standard to do abatement of hazardous materials but the city is letting the developer skip this process - exposing these contaminants into the environment and saving them money.

This comes after an engineering report six weeks earlier on a Nov 5th that presents alternative options to repair the building. This order serves the interests of no one but Holborn Properties, who purposefully neglected this property for over 11 years.

The city also needs to address why it failed to implement its own policies which would have seen this building maintained and not vacant since 2013.

“Residents of vancouver need to start holding these elected officials accountable. Questions need to be answered about issues in this city that affect everybody.  There is a feedback form on the city website where the public can contact the Mayor and council as a group with any complaints, questions etc”

   1. Why was 500 Dunsmuir a designated Single Room Occupancy Building allowed to sit empty since 2013?  This is just inexcusable when the SRA bylaw and Standards of Maintenance bylaw exist and were created specifically to prevent this.

2. Why are the property’s owners Holborn not being charged the SRO conversion tax of up to $300,000 per unit back in 2013 or since falling into disrepair?

3. Why are numerous SRO Buildings still being shut down because they are deemed not safe to occupy -  when the standards of maintenance bylaw exists and was created specifically to prevent these older SRO BUILDINGS falling into disrepair?  

 The owners of these buildings can not be blamed for this because the city has the power to step in and do any repairs necessary.

If the owner refuses, the cost simply gets added to their property taxes and if property taxes are not paid the city has legal ground to expropriate property and whatever is on it so there is no financial risk at all for the city to work in support of maintaining older buildings.

Written partially by Paisley Pearl

 

ABOUT HOLBORN PROPERTIES:

This Malaysian based real estate speculation company is known for it's failure to deliver at Little Mountain, a 15-acre site near Queen Elizabeth Park. In 2008, Holburn Properties bought and demolished hundreds of social housing units & has yet to make any progress after 16 years.  At the time, Holborn was given a $211-million loan and an $88-million "credit" towards the promised construction of 234 social housing units on the property from BC Housing.

 

Articles & Links about Dunsmuir House & Holborn Group:

Global News: Holborn Properties denies it let Dunsmuir House fall apart to force demolition​

The Mainlander: OP-ED | Make Holborn Pay for Loss of the Dunsmuir Hotel​

Little Mountain developers released from promise to build social housing first. Nov 01, 2023 ​

VANCOUVER.CA: 500 Dunsmuir Street to be demolished due to life safety

 

Dunsmuir House Media:

https://www.reallyvirtual.ca/vancouver-then-now-1974/500-dunsmuir-street-1974

 

Relevant Bylaws & Legal Info

City of Vancouver Standards of Maintenance Bylaw​

SRA Bylaw