It’s been a private estate, a hospital, a seniors’ residence, a B&B and a restaurant. Now the City of North Vancouver’s grandest heritage home is being reborn as a daycare.
Council voted unanimously July 20 to convert Hamersley House at 350 East Second St. into a new location for KinderBees Early Learning Centre with room for up to 77 kiddos.
The10,000-square-foot Tudor Revival mansion was built in 1904 by Col. Alfred St. George Hamersley, the City of Vancouver’s first solicitor. It has had permanent heritage protection since 2005. Under the official community plan amendment approved by council, all of the heritage defining elements of the home will be kept; however, some small changes will be made to bring the house up to the standard required by Vancouver Coastal Health to be a licensed daycare.
When it came to the virtual public hearing, only one member of the public dialed in. East Fourth Street resident Jan Malcolm, who lives two doors down from a daycare, said the neighbours from nearby apartments would be inundated with noise.
“I have a really strong belief that childcare is essential in the city. I also have the strong belief that it should be in the proper location with the proper setting, and I have first-hand experience with this not being the case,” she said, noting “Those children scream. They are allowed to scream. When I was working night shifts, they were waking me up. I’m concerned about the noise for the residents there. I would not want anyone to go through what we have gone through on East Fourth Street. It has been hell.”
Three other residents wrote letters of concern. No members of the public wrote or spoke in favour.
Council members, however, were unanimous in their support for the proposal. Before voting, they spoke about its proximity to Lonsdale and transit, its bucolic grounds, the retention of the heritage aspects of the property, and the growing need for childcare spaces, especially in Moodyville.
“I can't think of a better location actually to have a childcare,” said Mayor Linda Buchanan.
“(This) is going to provide something obviously that we need in a location that's actually close to the people who need it,” added Coun. Tony Valente.
Coun. Tina Hu noted the importance of the proposal when it comes to the recovery from COVID-19’s impacts on the community.
“Childcare services are critical to get the economy back on track,” she said.
Others on council noted the difficulty childcare businesses have in finding locations outside of commercial or industrial areas.
“I myself, I'm strongly supportive of complete communities. For me, this means a mix of building uses and types and public and private spaces and commercial/retail mixed in with residential,” said Coun. Jessica McIlroy.
As for the noise emanating from the yard, Buchanan said she would like to see KinderBees management work to mitigate concerns early on, but a certain amount of shrieking was to be expected.
“The reality is children do make noise and that's life,” she said. “In my opinion, I think we are very blessed to live in a community where we can actually hear young children.”
