Keep the beat in the ‘Heart’ of Mount Pleasant!

MOUNT PLEASANT NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT NOW!

We love the ‘Heritage Heart’, the unique commercial/cultural district defined by the intersections of Main, Broadway, and Kingsway. We bet you do too.

Our Vision? When transit users emerge from the future Mount Pleasant Broadway Subway station, they will arrive at Mount Pleasant’s vibrant and distinct ‘Heritage Heart’, not a generic “could-be-anywhere” intersection.

BUT we are at risk of losing the ‘heart’ of Mount Pleasant and the local independent businesses and cultural groups who have homes there.

Did you know that the Heart of Mount Pleasant was ranked # 1 on Heritage Vancouver Society’s 2019 Top Ten Endangered Watch List? Mount Pleasant was also included on their 2021 Top10 Watch List.

The recognition of this district as the ‘heart’ of the community and the name “Heritage Heart” were born from the 2010 Mount Pleasant Community Plan (MPCP) and subsequent Implementation Package (IP), which were co-created by the City of Vancouver and the community through the investment of taxpayer dollars and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours. They document the ‘heart’s’ importance as a vibrant shopping, cultural and gathering spot, not only to the neighbourhood but city-wide. Both documents also include the policy of “retaining the existing scale and character” of this small portion of Mount Pleasant.

To protect this treasured district, we asked, during meetings with the Broadway Planning Team (2020 – 2022) and during our presentations at the public hearing (May/June 2022), that the City and Plan formalize this policy by declaring the ‘Heritage Heart’/Main Street Village a Heritage District with a management plan.

The recently approved Broadway Plan  (effective September 1, 2022) does identify the Main Street Village as one of 3 heritage districts/cultural landscapes (Heritage Section – 18.3 ps 445 – 449 & 18.4 p 450) and the Broadway Planning Team, who acknowledged that the heritage work started very late in the planning process, have made a commitment to doing further assessment and protection of heritage assets in consultation with communities during the Plan’s “lengthy implementation period”. This includes doing statements of significance for heritage districts, including the Main Street Village (Heritage Section – 18.3.2 – p 445).

But protection of this vital area, the “living room of the community”, needs to include a management plan that deals holistically with the social diversity, independent businesses, affordable rents, historic architecture, smaller store frontages, public spaces and unique personality of Mount Pleasant.

Where Main St. meets Kingsway in the “Heritage Heart”.

Please join us as we continue to call upon the City to include a commitment to declaring the ‘Heritage Heart’/ Main Street Village a heritage district within the Broadway Plan with its own management plan.

Here’s how you can join our campaign:

First, let your voice be heard, please sign and share our petition to protect our much loved unique commercial/cultural district!

Sign Change.org petition to City of Vancouver Mayor & Council to “Keep the beat in the ‘Heart’ of Mount Pleasant here.

Or, copy and paste URL to petition: https://www.change.org/p/vancouver-mayor-and-city-council-keep-the-beat-in-the-heart-of-mount-pleasant

Note: After you sign the petition, change.org will solicit for a donation on this issue, this is how change.org operates – they give exposure in exchange for money. Please do not donate to this issue through change.org.

Second, stay informed!

Yes, I support this campaign! Please keep me informed by adding my name to your contact list:

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And finally, if you’d like to help us cover the administrative costs of running this campaign, please donate to our FundRazr page here.

We are a small but dedicated grassroots organization and, as such, any financial support, small or large, is very much appreciated. Thank you!

 

 

 

If you’d like to comment on this post, there is a “leave a comment” link at the top of this post. All comments will be published after moderation.

 

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Thanks For Coming By Our Heritage Lounge

Every year the MPHG hears so much enthusiasm for heritage and this year we heard constant recognition that Mount Pleasant is a truly vital and cherished example of ‘living heritage’. The combination of both tangible (buildings, streetscapes) and intangible (traditions, uses of space, associations, stories) heritage is key to Mount Pleasant’s liveability and popularity.

We also heard much support for our proposal for the creation of a heritage precinct in the Old Mount Pleasant Village/Heritage Heart area around Main and Broadway. This unique precinct, with some of the most historically cohesive blocks left in the City, has continuously been the hub of the neighbourhood. As a vibrant and well-loved commercial district and gathering space, with an eclectic mix of locally owned small businesses, it draws people from all over the City.  This is ‘living heritage’ and it is meeting our collective need for local identity and sense of place. Stay tuned for next steps in our advocacy for its conservation.

It was great to have local historians Bruce Macdonald and Michael Kluckner drop by. Their participation in the first Heritage Lounge and encouragement and generosity were essential in the foundation of MPHG. We appreciate their and Grandview Heritage Group‘s continued support.

Local artist and MPHG member Jennifer Chernecki again created a new colouring page for us and this time it is of the famous “Dude” of Dude Chilling Park and the also famous and adored Levee, our loyal canine teammate.

Thanks again to Bruce Macdonald for the maps from his popular book Vancouver A Visual History, Neil Wyles and Meghan Munro of the MPBIA, Quebec Manor Co-op and Eric Phillips of Grandview Heritage Group.

The Heritage Lounge crew this year was Alyssa, Christine, Danielle, Jennifer and Matt.

Join Us For Our 7th Heritage Lounge This Sunday, June 16th, 2019 At The Main Street Car Free Festival From 12 – 7

The Mount Pleasant Heritage Group is excited to again be participating in the Main Street Car Free Festival and our Heritage Lounge will be located in front of Heritage Hall.

Along with displays and maps about Mount Pleasant’s history, neighbourhood walking tour pamphlets, and a colouring station with pages created by local artists, we will have information about how the Mount Pleasant Heritage Group is advocating for Mount Pleasant’s ‘Living Heritage’.

Mount Pleasant’s heritage lives not only through its buildings but also through its village atmosphere, street vitality, distinct commercial identity with a diverse and vibrant mix of local businesses, and a long and rich tradition of being an arts and performance hub.

Following up on a letter we wrote to Mayor and Council, seven City Councillors met with us to discuss how much Mount Pleasant’s heritage, in both its tangible and intangible forms, contributes to the liveability of the City and is treasured by residents.

Come by and find out about the next steps the Mount Pleasant Heritage Group will be taking in our proposal for a heritage precinct in the ‘Heritage Heart’ area and how you can help. Mount Pleasant Heritage Lives!

Celebrating Heritage Week 2019

Join us in recognizing and appreciating Mount Pleasant’s “Living Heritage” in celebration of Heritage Week 2019 in Canada and the theme “Heritage: The Tie That Binds”. 

Heritage exists in both tangible (physical) and intangible (non-physical) forms. Tangible heritage, such as objects and buildings, are easy to see. Intangible heritage, such as beliefs, traditions and uses of space, are qualities that contribute to the cultural landscape of a neighbourhood and are no less important. It is the combination of both tangible and intangible heritage that are at the heart of Mount Pleasant’s distinct village character, commercial identity, affordability and diversity. To discover more visit the Mount Pleasant Community Centre and check out our exhibit in the display case of the main lobby. It is up until March 15, 2019.

This heritage week project brought to you by Jennifer Chernecki, Christine Hagemoen, Alyssa Myshok and Danielle Peacock.

Mount Pleasant Heritage Lives!

Vancouver’s Treasured (And Threatened) Old Mount Pleasant Village – A Video Story

Created during grunt gallery’s 2018 Mount Pleasant Community Art Screen Digital Storytelling workshops with Mount Pleasant residents. Mount Pleasant Heritage Group’s video highlights our popular and historic area of Vancouver, also known as the “Heritage Heart.” Please enjoy! and share with friends and lovers of heritage.

https://digitalstories.ca/video/vancouvers-treasured-old-mount-pleasant-village/

Thanks For Dropping By Our 6th Heritage Lounge

Once again it was great to chat with so many heritage enthusiasts at the recent Main Street Car Free Festival. We had a steady stream of people from both Mount Pleasant and beyond dropping by and expressing their love of our historic neighbourhood. They also expressed concern about its future. Word is going around that a couple of developers have bought up many key buildings in the Heritage Heart, which is home to our distinctive neighbourhood high street, triangle block and many of our much loved small and independent businesses. This vibrant shopping and gathering spot is clearly cherished not only by the local community but by the city at large and folks want it protected.

Our colouring station was non-stop busy and local artist and MPHG member Jennifer Chernecki created a new page of Heritage Hall.

 

And speaking of Heritage Hall it was great to be tucked in between Vancouver Heritage Foundation and the MPBIA in front of one of Mount Pleasant’s grand old heritage buildings.

We want to again express our appreciation for all of the encouragement we received to continue our work of celebrating and advocating on behalf of Mount Pleasant’s rich and cherished heritage. Mount Pleasant Heritage Lives!

Many thanks to Bruce Macdonald for the maps from his popular book Vancouver A Visual History, to Neil Wyles of the MPBIA for spot organization and to the Quebec Manor Co-op for the loan of furniture. Eric Phillips of Grandview Heritage Group not only lent us equipment and helped with set up and take down but he delivered everything in his 1947 vintage chevy truck.

The Heritage Lounge crew this year was Alyssa, Christine, Danielle, Flora and Jennifer.

 

 

 

Join Us For Our 6th Heritage Lounge This Sunday, June 17th, 2018 At The Main Street Car Free Festival From 12 – 7

This year the Mount Pleasant Heritage Group (MPHG) is excited to be participating for the first time in the Main Street Car Free Festival and our Heritage Lounge will be located in the vicinity of Heritage Hall between 15th and 17th Avenues.

Post Office Station C (Heritage Hall) c 1920s Philip Timms VPL 19162

Along with displays and maps about Mount Pleasant’s history, including its long and rich tradition of being home to a vibrant arts community, we will have a colouring station with colouring pages created by local artists celebrating the neighbourhood’s heritage. The pages are free for the taking and if you don’t have time to sit down and do a little colouring we encourage you to take one home.

We will also have some neighbourhood walking tour pamphlets, including one created by the Mount Pleasant BIA.

Hope you can come by and help us celebrate our historic and cherished neighbourhood. Mount Pleasant Heritage Lives!

 

 

What Does The Mount Pleasant Community Plan Say About The Historic Old Mount Pleasant Village?

Main Street and 8th Avenue looking north 1922 VPL 5279 Philip Timms

Mount Pleasant is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver outside of the downtown peninsula and the city’s first suburb. The hub from which the historic Old Mount Pleasant Village developed in the late 1880s and early 1900s occupies the area on Main Street (between 6th and 12th Avenues) and the Triangle Block – formed by Kingsway, Main Street and Broadway. Many of the buildings from that era still exist and have consistently provided affordable housing and commercial spaces.

1897-1901 Goad Fire Insurance Map showing Old Mount Pleasant Village/Heritage Heart when Main Street was named Westminster Avenue, Kingsway was Westminster Road and Broadway was 9th Avenue – map courtesy of Library and Archives Canada Online MIKAN no. 3807867                                                                                                       

The Mount Pleasant Community Plan (MPCP) was adopted in November of 2010 after an extensive public planning process which began in March 2007. The subsequent Implementation Package (IP), which built upon the Plan, was adopted in October of 2013. Both documents contain principles and policies to address issues and guide development over 30 years. During the planning process the Triangle Block came to be affectionately referred to as the Heritage Heart.

So what do the Plan and Implementation Package say about this section of Mount Pleasant?

• This neighbourhood warrants ongoing promotion as a heritage area of the city (MPCP p. 9)
• Recognize and preserve all heritage buildings (MPCP p. 11) 
• Apply the broader definition of ‘heritage’ that goes beyond buildings and includes streetscapes… (MPCP p. 21) 
• Upgrade the heritage register recognizing buildings built since 1940, and other aspects of heritage (e.g. important working class homes…) ((MPCP p. 21) 
• Retain the existing scale and character of Main Street (from 7th to 11th Avenue)…and older more affordable housing (e.g. 3 storey walk-ups)… (MPCP p. 23) 
• Create a ‘Cultural District’ by preserving and enhancing the heritage ‘heart’ (triangle north of Broadway between Main Street and Kingsway) and the surrounding area at current scale (MPCP p. 24)
• Sustain and further encourage a wide variety of independent businesses…Develop without big box stores (MPCP p. 8)
• Mount Pleasant is one of Vancouver’s most historic and heritage-rich neighbourhoods. The community is incredibly proud of their heritage… (IP-Section 4/Public Realm p. 92)
• Celebrate the old Mount Pleasant village location with public art, paving and interpretive panels (IP-Section 4/Public Realm p. 96)
• Recognize and celebrate the “triangle block” as the historic heart of the community (IP-    Section 4/Public Realm p. 51)
• Protect and enhance Mount Pleasant’s many and varied heritage resources (IP-Section 5/ Public Benefits Strategy p. 129)
• Mount Pleasant prospers as a community known for its wide variety of locally owned shops and restaurants, attracting shoppers and diners from across the city (IP Section 4/Public Realm p. 58)

Calladines Grocery Trucks on Main Street Between 7th and 8th 1918 CVA 99-5163 Stuart Thomson

 

In 2015 the city put out a call for public nominations as part of its Heritage Register upgrade. In keeping with the principles and policies of the Plan and Implementation Package, the Mount Pleasant Heritage Group (MPHG) put forth a nomination to create a Main Street Heritage Precinct in the Old Mount Pleasant Village/Heritage Heart area of the neighbourhood. The city is in the process of developing themes for the Heritage Register and reviewing nominations. A report is due later in the year.

Heritage has come to be defined more broadly and to include intangible heritage assets, assets that contribute to the cultural and social fabric of a healthy community. It is important that the city recognizes that this unique area – with its human scale heritage and older, modest buildings providing relatively affordable housing and spaces for the neighbourhood’s treasured small and independent businesses – is a distinctive neighbourhood high street cherished not only by the local community, but also by the entire city. The MPHG believes that this historic hub and vibrant shopping and gathering spot is worthy of preservation as it meets our collective needs for local identity, sense of place, and connection to our neighbourhood.

NW Corner of Main Street and 10th Avenue looking north 1920 VPL 7434 Philip Timms

 

 

 

 

 

You can access the Mount Pleasant Community Plan and Implementation Package documents here.

Celebrating Heritage Week 2018

The Mount Pleasant Heritage Group celebrates heritage in our community 365 days a year…but we always join the rest of the Province the third week of February to celebrate Heritage Week in BC. Every year, organizations in the heritage sector participate in Heritage Week by organizing events that showcase local heritage and involve the public. The theme for 2018 is “Heritage Stands the Test of Time.”

This year we have created a banner that merges a historical image of Mount Pleasant with a modern day one and our theme is: Heritage Stands the Test of Time: And Stays Affordable!

The historical photo, from the City of Vancouver Archives (Major Matthews Collection -AM54-S4-: SGN 1026), looks north along Main Street from 8th Avenue and shows the west side of the 2300 block. This Heritage Week we would like to promote the affordability of heritage buildings for both housing and businesses.

The banner is in the window of Rath Art Supplies, located in the Triangle Building at 2412 Main Street, right in the centre of Mount Pleasant’s Heritage Heart.

It will be up until the end of February, 2018.

MPHG would like to thank the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area (MPBIA) and Rath Art Supplies for their generous support of this project.

This Heritage Week 2018 project brought to you by Jennifer Chernecki (artistic production), Christine Hagemoen (research) and the rest of the MPHG team.

Our banner from last year, which explains why Mount Pleasant’s streets are named after the Canadian provinces/territories & why Ontario Street is the centre/000 block of Vancouver, is up in the lobby display case of the Mount Pleasant Community Centre.

Mount Pleasant Heritage Lives!

The Triangle Building: ‘Aorta’ of Mount Pleasant’s ‘Heritage Heart’

Christine Hagemoen – 2017

The Triangle Building at 2402-2422 Main St/44, 46 Kingsway is a key building in what has become affectionately known as Mount Pleasant’s ‘Heritage Heart’, the area around the triangle block. Created by Broadway and the historic intersection of Kingsway, Main Street and 7th Avenue and referred to by this name in the Mount Pleasant Community Plan (2010), the ‘Heritage Heart’ was the hub from which ‘Old Mount Pleasant Village’ developed and it has remained the hub of the neighbourhood ever since.

The Triangle Building was built by merchant, developer and philanthropist Ben Wosk in 1947.  Beneath the grey stuccoed skin of this unique Streamlined Art Moderne building still exists the original vitrolite exterior finish.  This pigmented structural glass was a product of mid-century developments in material science.  Also indicative of the period’s affinity for slick shiny surfaces are the stainless steel window and door frames which surround the building front and back.

VPL-78025B – Robert O. Bentley 1972 Dominion Photo Co.

Mount Pleasant’s vibrant mix of small businesses is one of its characteristics most valued by both its residents and the city at large. Since it was built, the Wosk Block/Triangle Building has provided more small, accessible storefronts and offices for the neighbourhood’s countless prized independent businesses than any other building in the area. One locally owned shop especially cherished by the community was Bain’s Candies and Fine Chocolates (established in 1938), which was housed in the tip of the building from the time the Wosk Block opened in 1948 until the turn of the 21st century. People still remember Campbell Munro who made candies for Bain’s for more than 66 years. The building is currently home to an eclectic group of businesses much loved by the community and provides some of the most affordable commercial rents in the area, as was highlighted in the recent article in the MetroNews, ‘Landlord helps keep block ‘alive’ (Thursday, February 21st, 2017).

aa-1404-CBC – Alvin Armstrong – 1956 – Night Shot for Almanac

The building’s upstairs offices have continually been used by businesses, community groups and non-profit associations emblematic of the neighbourhood and important to the community’s social and cultural cohesion. In the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s there was a high concentration of industrial workers associations and credit unions mixed among various professionals as well as community groups like the Viet Nam Action Committee and Canadian Jewish Outlook Magazine. Since the late 1980’s the offices have been home to many arts organizations and artists studios along with other groups and businesses. The building tells the story of the neighbourhood’s evolution and changing identity and its present popularity as a social gathering place, both inside its shops, cafe and eateries and outside along the sidewalk, reflects how much the building and its tenants are held dear by the people of Vancouver.

As the Mount Pleasant Heritage Group it is our goal to identify, celebrate and preserve heritage buildings that are not only of architectural interest and importance but that have a history of contributing to the social/cultural identity and fabric of the community.  It is our hope to open up a conversation about the future of this treasured and vital building that might be characterized as the ‘aorta’ of the ‘Heritage Heart’.

Addendum to original post:  This photo shows the Triangle Building with its new mural by Bracken Hanuse Corlett, painted for the Vancouver Mural Festival 2017.

Mural by Bracken Hanuse Corlett

Mural by Bracken Hanuse Corlett