An empty house was demolished in our neighbourhood yesterday, and while the tell-tale signs that the event was imminent were all there – gas cut off, trees around the house cut down, asbestos removal crews present the week before – it was still a shock to hear the excavator start up and begin banging at the building this morning. Somehow our lack of respect for older homes seems far more upsetting when it’s on my own street a few doors away.
I picked up a copy of Vancouver Vanishes recently, what a great read! Some of the buildings mentioned are familiar, others too late to know. The book is both discouraging and uplifting, with loving tales of home ownership and interesting people, plus John Atkin’s essay “Demolition: It Happens” puts some interesting historical context into today’s events. It’s troubling to think Vancouver’s demolition habit hasn’t changed much in the past 100 years.
