What's New

Lansair Automotive Parts is long gone, replaced by a coffee shop that sells experimental beers. Or something. I don't know. Their website is so hip I can't understand it. 

The Shatford House is one of the original estates on this picturesque street that surrounds one of the prettiest parks in the city.  

The heritage-designated front facade has been retained, but nothing else remains of this 1926 structure. Image courtesy of http://www.alexmorrison.org/

Originally built in 1927, this UBC area apartment complex continues to offer housing for out of town students and faculty.  

The neighborhood must have smelled like Butter-Krust bread back in the day. The building is almost unrecognizable now, having undergone extensive renovations and additions. Further changes are unavoidable, as a Skytrain station is going in across the street, bringing with it inevitable high rises and fast food joints.

This well-known building at the corner of Robson and Thurlow was built in 1908 by lumber baron WL Tait. It was about to be demolished in 1979 until a number of residents formed a co-op and saved it. It is currently occupied by low-to-middle income residents, and there is a long line of applicants waiting to get in. You can find a more detailed history of the building here. 

Built in 1911 near what is now called Mole Hill, the Royal Alexandra suffered a major fire in 1927.  After restoration it was rename Strathmore Lodge, and consists of bachelor and 1-bedroom rentals.

This was the Canadian headquarters for envelope maker Barber-Ellis, who also had a manufacturing facility down the street. In its heyday it produced over 400 million envelopes a year. A large addition was made to the building in later years, and Barber-Ellis was absorbed by Unisource, which in turn was folded into Veritiv. 

There are lots of reference points in these two photographs, the most obvious one being the Berkeley Tower in the background, now dwarfed by others competing for views. The 16-storey building was constructed in 1958, and was the first highrise in the West End.  Photo courtesy City of Vancouver. 

 Built in 1909 by John Seabold, an American who left Vancouver to avoid serving in the Great War, abandoning this building and others throughout the West End.