Monday, July 28, 2008

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

1889: A very different Vancouver


When the house that makes up the alley facing portion of the threatened Heatley Block was built in 1889, the City of Vancouver was three years old and home to less than 12,000 people. Its site was just a quarter century removed from being a temperate rainforest, gently sloping east to the marshy flats around Raymur Avenue. The first train from Eastern Canada had arrived a mere two years earlier.

The iconic Eiffel Tower and the Moulin Rouge in Paris were opened that year, the Coca Cola company was incorporated. Washington became a State in the USA. Charlie Chaplin was born in 1889.

Stay tuned for more interesting facts from this year in Vancouver and world history.

In the meantime, please also visit www.strathcona-hastings.org

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Heatley Block on Flickr

We've created a space for everyone to showcase their photos of the Heatley Block, the 1889-1930s buildings in Strathcona that are currently at risk of being demolished.

The pool is here:

www.flickr.com/groups/heatleyblock

Please join up and add any you might have!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Introduction

Essential background reading material:

http://www.heritagevancouver.org/topten/2008/topten2008_10.html

We endorse the future of this heritage block as a home for locally-based small business and low income renters. We oppose construction of an eight storey tower at this site.

We welcome others of like mind who believe that the community is best served by finding an alternative location for the worthy goal of a new Strathcona/Downtown Eastside library.
We welcome those who wish to fight displacement by civic government and those who believe in upfront and open consultation between the city and all interested neighbours.
We advocate an end to backroom dealmaking and secrecy with respect to this project.

We welcome anyone who is interested in preserving existing rental stock, local small business space and the heritage of Vancouver's first neighbourhood.

Don't let the Heatley Block end up like this: