| 2003
Top Ten Endangered Sites
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(Updated)
Located in Gastown on Water Street, this building was constructed just after the 1886
Great Fire, and is a Gastown ladmark, and one of the oldest buildings
in the city.
In March 1998, a tragic fire destroyed all but
the brick bay-windowed facade, now propped up by a steel frame
in the hope that the owners might try to save the facade as
part of a new building.
Four years have passed, and the burned-out hulk
continues to deteriorate, its prospects weakened by low demand
for upper floor premises in Gastown. Exposure to the elements
will soon complete what the fire left unfinished.
With approval of the new Gastown heritage incentives,
however, the economics of development have suddenly improved,
and with it renewed interest in Gastown investment. (The first
heritage project to use the new incentives — and a reported
market success — is the group of recently completed
loft residences across the street at 65 Water St.) City staff
should be doing their utmost to help the owner use the new
incentives to save this A-listed site.
Update 09 April 2006: The remaining facade is currently being restored
in conjunction with a new development.
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