A 99-year-old neighbourhood landmark that has sat vacant for many years will soon be restored to its original condition and put back to use as a commercial building.
Popularly known as "the blue building" due to its garish turquoise exterior, the Commercial Block at the corner of St. Andrews Avenue and East Eighth Street in North Vancouver has housed several grocery stores and a butcher over the past century. The last business in there closed up shop in 2002.
Brad Hodson purchased the building earlier this year and plans to move his Valley Estates winemaking business into part of the main floor. The remainder of the ground level is available for another business to lease and the residential units on the second floor already have tenants lined up.
"I've been driving by this building for four years and then I saw the For Sale sign," Hodson said. "I saw it as a diamond in the rough. We are running out of buildings like that and buildings that are even restorable. For me it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I've had so many people come by walking their dog or walking with their kids and they say 'I love it! Can I see inside?'"
In addition to its eye-catching colour, the building features distinctive turrets and a parapet. But while the structure's unique qualities have always attracted attention, they have also made it difficult to redevelop. Built before the advent of city zoning laws, it needed an involved city process to return to use.
"It's certainly non-conforming, but the city is very motivated to get the building restored," Hodson said.
The previous owner, a Sunshine Coast-based contractor, had hoped to live in one of the upper units and convert the main floor for use as a community performance space. But using the space for public assembly would have required an expensive sprinkler installation. The City of North Vancouver considered loaning the owner the money to do it, but the plan eventually fell through.
Hodson's plans only require a monitored fire alarm, alongside the heritage restoration he plans, which includes refurbishing the floors, installing fire-rated wall and ceiling panels and changing the exterior colour to its original "Strathcona red."
"About 75 per cent of people hate the colour, but then there's that 25 per cent who say 'I kind of like the blue,'" said Hodson, laughing.
With the building's centennial approaching, Hodson hopes to stage some sort of celebration on the premises next year.
"I've always wanted to restore a building. I always thought it would be the house I live in. I never thought it would be a unique commercial building like this but the more I delved into it, the more it excited me."
