BC Business
At a time when landmarks are being mowed down for real estate projects, it's become trendy to pay homage to the former. We pulled together a few examples of this marketing spin
At a time when landmarks are being mowed down for real estate projects, it’s become trendy to pay homage to the former. We pulled together a few examples of this marketing spin:
Location: 16th and Arbutus, Vancouver
Formerly: The Ridge movie theatre and bowling alley
Now: 48 condo units above a grocery store
What it kept: The theatre’s iconic old sign, which sits at the top of the building
Location: 28th Avenue, South Surrey
Formerly: Sunnyside Elementary
Now: A row of 94 townhouses
What it kept: Playful use of the English language (it’s an old school, get it?) that we’re sure the former facility’s grammar teachers would appreciate
Location: 152 Street, Surrey
Formerly: A forest overlooking Guildford Golf & Country Club
Now: A townhouse development with 55 units and the price tag that comes with living next to a country club
What it kept: Well, not the forest. But the property’s listing page certainly enjoys the puns that come with being connected to a golf course. Case in point: “At The Links, the grass really is greener”
Location: Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford
Formerly: Headquarters of the Abbotsford News paper
Now: A soon-to-be six-storey monster with 282 residential units
What it kept: The newspaper will remain on the premises. For now, at least, it appears that heritage isn’t dead
Location: Tyee Road, Victoria
Formerly: An old CN rail yard briefly called Bayside Village in a push for development that didn’t come to fruition. Until
Now: A “carefully planned waterfront community” of 13 acres that’s stuffed with condos, townhouses and commercial space
What it kept: Proximity to the Selkirk Waterway. That’s about it
Location: 12th and Cambie, Vancouver
Formerly: A White Spot restaurant
Now: An eight-storey mammoth with 160 units of residential space and ground-floor commercial use
What it kept: Just the name, apparently. There were rumours that a White Spot would be slotted among the retail space, but that doesn’t seem to have happened
Location: 17th and Ontario, Vancouver
Formerly: An industrial complex that housed many endeavours, beginning with a dairy business launched by Frederick Turner and his three sons
Now: 13 townhouses of various sizes are in the works
What it kept: Judging by the neighbourhood, any lactose remnants will be swiftly jettisoned in favour of almond-based products