Dear editor:
It was with a heavy heart I read about the plans to demolish two iconic West Vancouver buildings. [Iconic Pink Palace Up for Redevelopment, Oct. 9 news story.)
I am sure I am not alone.
I’m sure it was not ironic placement for this article to be on the same page as DNV Focuses on Heritage Preservation that notes “it comes down to money sometimes.”
Both the Shoreland and Villa Maris, while not particularly old by world standards, have significant heritage value as well as being much loved community landmarks.
But, of course, new waterfront strata units will provide the biggest possible financial return.
With little to no incentives or other mechanisms to encourage the retention and renovation of older buildings I fear these beauties and more will be soon lost.
Look at older cities in Canada, North America or elsewhere: it can be argued the most attractive and interesting are the same ones that have also best managed to preserve their heritage. Anyone been to Boston recently?
It took significant effort to save Vancouver’s much older (1930) Marine Building but it would be hard to find anyone to say it was not worth it.
On the other hand, the new Georgia Medical & Dental Building, though it has some merits including architectural details and artwork preserved from the original, is a mere shadow of the building it replaced. Try as you might – you simply can’t replace iconic.
The owners of these two West Vancouver landmarks seem sensitive to both the community and their tenants – a valuable quality not found in all property owners but certainly one that should provide some hope and incentive to save these buildings.
Scenery Slater
West Vancouver
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