Apparently the city has bought the Heatley Block on Hastings Street with the intention of tearing it down to build a new city library. The Heatley Block is an important heritage apartment building and storefront (1931) attached to two houses also slated for demolition – built in 1889 and 1889. In its place the city is proposing an 8-story modern building, which will significantly change the character of that part of Strathcona.
But there are alternatives!
Please go to these sites dedicated to the preservation of the Heatley Block and get involved with the fight to save what little historic East Vancouver is left:
It is not too late to bring options to the city for discussion. We encourage everyone who cares about the preservation of East Vancouver heritage sites to let the city know of your concerns and support the proposal to locate the library into the old Strathcona School site instead.
[...] Save Vancouver’s Heatley Block, from Viaduct. [...]
Please sign the online petition to save the Heatley Block from demolition and to locate the proposed new East End Library in Strathcona School. That’s a win win situation!
http://www.petitiononline.com/heatley/petition.html
My heart goes out to the tenants at Heatley as it does to any soul who has been displaced by Vancvouver’s so-called “revitalization” strategies. This news makes me want to eat my own teeth.
I will be giving a talk on the history ofthe Heatley Block on Tuesday November the 4th as part of the Heart of the City Festival. For details, check out their website:
http://www.heartofthecityfestival.com/
Good news! Tonight, a member of the library board came to the Strathcona Residents Association meeting and announced that the Library/City has found a new location for the library. The Heatley Block has been saved!