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West Vancouver council has approved a heritage revitalization agreement for the Clegg House property at 1591 Haywood Ave. that will allow extra density – including subdividing the large lot and building another home as well as a coach house and stratified garden suite on the land – in exchange for preserving the heritage home.
The 970-square-foot Craftsman style home was built in 1929 and sits on a large third-of-an-acre corner lot at the intersection of West Vancouver’s 16th Street and Haywood Avenue. The home is one of the first built in the neighbourhood, as part of a 1912 subdivision, by immigrant farmer Warren Clegg, who bought two lots for less than $900, according to historical records.
Under the heritage revitalization agreement unanimously given third reading by council Monday night, the Clegg House will be moved south on the property to allow subdivision of the land. A new home and detached garage can then be built on the north lot while another garage with a coach house above it will be added to the south lot between the Clegg House and the new home. A stratified basement suite will also be added to the Clegg House, which would involve increasing the height of the house to accommodate nine-foot ceilings in the suite.
The approval of the heritage agreement for the property comes following a public hearing Oct. 23 where heritage and housing advocates urged council to approve the deal.
Almost all the 16 people who showed up spoke in favour of the plan, arguing the proposal will preserve one of West Vancouver’s few remaining heritage houses while retaining neighbourhood character.
Susan Walker told council as the owner of a 1912 heritage home herself which she plans to move to Caulfeild, she knows that preserving heritage is “a very expensive undertaking.… These things are not done in my view for the money.”
“These do represent the few remaining heritage properties we have,” she said. “How many have been lost to the wrecking ball?”
Kyla Gardiner, president of the North Shore Heritage Preservation Society, said her group has visited the site and strongly supports the heritage revitalization plan. “It respects the neighbourhood character,” she said, adding the alternative is likely a “grossly oversized home” on the site that is “not affordable to much of the community.”
John Mawson, a member of West Vancouver’s heritage advisory committee, said the home has heritage significance and “it’s one of a dwindling number of buildings that remain of that vintage.” He added two of the other heritage revitalizations projects – including those for the Vincent and Rush houses – have been well received.
Not everyone was in favour of the plan. Several people wrote to council, arguing the Clegg House would become “unrecognizable” under the proposal, which they described as a rezoning proposal with substantial financial benefit to the owners.
On Monday, Coun. Nora Gambioli praised the owners, Darrin and Meghan DaCosta, for the heritage plan.
“I really think that heritage revitalization agreements don’t get any better than this. And we either support heritage or we don’t. There’s always going to be a few details that you know, could be better,” she said. “But I fully support this project, and I think it’s going to be a huge benefit to the neighbourhood.”
Coun. Sharon Thompson also applauded the project.
“I think they add that housing alternative that seems to be missing – smaller homes for people as opposed to more and more condos,” she said. “And I do applaud the proponent for taking this on. It’s always a lot more work than one expects. And it tends to pit neighbours against neighbours.”
Thompson said while there has been some public speculation about how much profit the owners could make from the deal, “I don’t think that’s our job here … to speculate whether people are doing this for profit or for adding to our community.”
Originally the owners had asked for a 20-year tax holiday on the site as part of the HRA proposal. But after members of council questioned that, the owners withdrew their request.
The Clegg House is the seventh heritage revitalization agreement approved in West Vancouver.
