The former Dunsmuir Hotel in Vancouver was declared a danger to public safety by the city council and ordered to be demolished due to deteriorating conditions that posed a risk of catastrophic collapse. Holborn Properties, the owner of the 115-year-old building, has been given 21 days to demolish the structure at its own expense. The property has been vacant since 2013, with the roof leaking for more than a decade. While the building is listed on the Heritage Registry, it is not protected under heritage designation laws, leaving it vulnerable to neglect.
Retired architect and real estate consultant Michael Geller criticized the property owner for allowing the building to become derelict after purchasing it, calling it a tragedy because of the building’s historical significance. The city council has directed staff to explore legal recourse against Holborn for neglecting the property and compromising its heritage value. SFU city program director Andy Yan described the situation as “demolition by neglect,” where the owner seemingly allowed the building to deteriorate to the point of demolition. Despite the building being previously used for affordable housing, the owner has been focused on demolishing it rather than maintaining it.
Holborn Properties denied intentionally letting the heritage property deteriorate to force the city’s hand on demolition, stating that they have submitted multiple redevelopment proposals over a decade. The company claimed to have commissioned a structural report in mid-October, which concluded that while the building should not be occupied and removal should be considered, it was not an immediate public safety hazard. Housing advocate Jean Swanson called for penalties to be imposed on the building’s owner under the city’s Single Room Accommodation bylaw, which allows fines to be levied for each SRO room removed.
Under the Single Room Accommodation bylaw, fines can be charged for each SRO room removed, potentially totaling over $50 million for the loss of 167 rooms at Dunsmuir House. Holborn denied any obligation to pay SRO replacement fees, stating that the building had been reclassified by the city from residential to commercial. Geller questioned the owner’s intention to develop an office building at the site after demolition, as downtown Vancouver already has a surplus of office space. Holborn reiterated its commitment to developing a project that benefits the community but faced scrutiny over rezoning plans for the property.
City staff have been tasked with exploring avenues to seek compensation from Holborn in potential rezoning applications for Dunsmuir House. The company has accepted the city’s decision to demolish the building and is working to meet the 21-day deadline. Despite the controversy surrounding the neglect and demolition of the historic building, the future redevelopment plans for the site remain uncertain. The case highlights the complex issues surrounding heritage preservation, property ownership, and development in urban areas like Vancouver.
