The Vernon Block at 225-245 East Broadway has a legal heritage designation from the City of Vancouver as Class C(M) on the Heritage Register The sidewalks around the Vernon Block at 225-245 East Broadway have been closed for weeks, in the unique triangular heritage heart of Mount Pleasant. All of the businesses have been ordered closed.
The scaffolding initially went up around the Vernon Block a year ago, when cracks appeared in the façade. Repair work was underway; with the scaffolding in place, businesses were able to reopen in 2023. However, in February of 2024, businesses were closed again due to safety concerns.
There is speculation that the damage to the designated heritage building was due to boring work for the Broadway Subway tunnel. BC's Ministry of Transportation denies this, however. Without any external influence, how could it be that cracks appeared on a heritage building that has been standing since 1930? What will be the final outcome of all this? The sidewalks around the Vernon Block are still closed as if March 2024, and the businesses are still shut. Will the building be condemned and torn down? Will the Vernon Block stand in its current form with scaffolding and closed sidewalks for years? Stay tuned. Please see the articles below for further details.
Resources
Something's happening at the Vernon Block... (February 12, 2024 by vanalogue)
Inspection complete for Vancouver heritage building closed for safety concerns (Vancouver Sun, February 13, 2024, Stephanie Ip)
Vancouver businesses close as heritage building façade crumbles (Global News, by Brett Ballah , March 14, 2023)
Our Town Cafe is closing (Mt Pleasant Broadway/Kingsway). Last day June 11th (CityHallWatch, June 9, 2022)
Vernon Block in June 2022
Sidewalk closed around the block on Kingsway
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