A heritage house-turned-church in Richmond city centre will be saved as the developer has agreed to move it to another part of their property.
The 1932 Herrling Residence, which currently houses the Richmond Capstan Alliance Church, would have been demolished as part of a residential development that consolidates several properties.
But, a month ago, city council asked their staff to see whether it could be moved or saved on-site.
In a report to council, they reported back that the house is “significant as a tangible link with the City Centre’s interwar development boom.”
The original owners were Joseph and Elsie Herrling, and the building was constructed in the “period revival” style that the report notes hearkens back to a period of “domestic values and ideals of an earlier age.”
City staff also concluded the house is sound enough to move, but transferring it to another part of the city would have been problematic as it could have hit power wires and utility infrastructure in the process.
In the end, the developer, Dava Developments, proposed moving it onto another portion of their property, which will be part of future development.
Two councillors vote against the project
The development includes rebuilding the Richmond Capstan Alliance Church, creating a new child-care centre and building four residential towers with 392 residential units, including 49 affordable rental units and 20 market rentals, as well as retail stores.
While Coun. Carol Day praised the project, she lamented the fact there weren’t more rental units.
The project was approved just before a deadline whereby a new city council policy requiring 15 per cent affordable rental units kicked in.
Day, however, noted the 323 privately owned condo units will be rentable as the city’s bylaws have been changed so that stratas can’t forbid owners renting out their units.
“At least in this situation you will be able to rent those units, if you’re a speculator, which I suspect many of them will be,” Day said.
Coun. Michael Wolfe also voted against the project, saying he wished a grove of 36 mature trees – which he called “great specimens” - could have been saved on the property.
A public hearing was held on the project Monday night, after which city council held its vote on the proposal.
