A historic Downtown Vancouver building on 500 Dunsmuir Street has been demolished following safety concerns.
The property owners were asked to preserve certain heritage features for reuse in future development of the site, only if it could be accomplished safely.
Following an on-site inspection with third-party engineers, the city’s chief building official determined that stabilizing the structure safely could not be done in a timely manner.
Vacant since 2013, the structure has suffered extensive damage from years of neglect. Key concerns include severe water damage, contamination from hazardous building materials and wildlife biowaste, and compromised structural integrity.
The City of Vancouver is exploring stronger measures to prevent private owners from neglecting vacant buildings.
