The Integration of Affordable Housing in Historic District Conservation: Mole Hill Housing, Vancouver, British Columbia Amanda Prevost CDNS 4901 Sustainable Heritage Case Study December 1, 2014

Mole Hill Images Canadian Architect (2005)

Lessons Mole Hill Housing project is a leading example of a heritage district that includes environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and cultural sustainability. While the project meets success in all of those categories, there is a lack of research done to see recent facts of continued success, ten years after the project being completed. This project is worth looking at because it is the first district to implement many of its characteristics, the project has deep rooted history, and it is very unique to the area. Other projects can learn from this project, and how the City or large organizations can work with a community and its members together, rather than against one other, which occurred during steps of this project. Mole Hill is a fantastic example overall, how all Canadian cities can incorporate densification, increase of green space and community operated housing.

Site Map (Mole Hill Community Housing Society, 2013)

Description Mole Hill Housing is located in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. According to the Mole Hill Community Housing Society (2013), the Mole Hill district consists of all of the properties located between the streets of Pendrell and Comox, and Thurlow and Bute Street. There is no street located between the two blocks, but rather a community green laneway.

Timeline In a report put together by Donald Luxton and Associates Inc. (2012), the Mole Hill district was “built between 1888 and 1904” and has fought demolition for several years. As stated, the area holds value due to its age, and the lack of other neighbourhoods in the West End Vancouver “surviving… pre-World War One” (Luxton, 2012 p. 2). This historic district was among those built in “the first two decades of the growth of the city of Vancouver” (Luxton, 2012 p. 2). The area has fought demolition due to city standards and “zoning changes that permitted high-rise construction” following the 1950s (Luxton, 2012, p. 7).

Timeline (2) A section of the homes in the surrounding area of today’s Mole Hill historic community “were torn down in the 1970s, in anticipation for a traffic couplet” (Luxton, 2012, p. 7). A significant reason why the remaining housing has been kept is due to the areas high level of densification, and the Mole Hill district contributes to the city’s limited green space. According to the Mole Hill Community Housing Society webpage, work began in 1999, in phase one of the rehabilitation, fixing seventy (70) units “with completion in 2002” (Mole Hill Community Housing Society, 2013). Phase two commenced immediately afterward and an additional one hundred (100) suites were completed by 2003 (Mole Hill Community Housing Society, 2013).

Natural/ Cultural Heritage After reviewing the City of Vancouver’s webpage, none of the addresses located within the boundaries are designated a heritage sites. While they still hold value under the Vancouver Heritage Register (2014), they do not have the legal designation to be protected to the fullest extent. According to Heritage Canada Foundation (2004), the area situated in the Mole Hill Community is the “city’s only intact Victoria and Edwardian neighbourhood” and the housing dates back to the late 1800s. Going into detail, under the Journal of Commerce, Cheryl Mah explains the work conducted in the interior of the homes in order to revert the structure into their original frameworks.

Environmental Sustainability This includes, “the use of geothermal energy,” the adaptive reuse of “60-70% of the original materials” for the renovation of the structure to minimalized “construction waste.” The project also has “increased energy efficient technology, and the use of a “water feature using storm-water” (Open Green Building Society, 2013). Environmentally friendly features, that must be maintained on a daily basis by the community collectively, in order to succeed, fall into the second category. This includes the community greenway, and gardens that hold different plant species such as fruit trees to feed the community, and the upkeep of the trees persevered for being 90 per cent mature. There is a preference to pedestrians in the historic district, and it is encouragement that tenants do not own a car.

Stake Holders The Mole Hill district is owned by the City of Vancouver, and is currently leased to the Mole Hole Community Housing Society on a sixty (60) year, no cost, agreement. There are 170 units available, which are designated for low-income families, seniors and couples (Ground Oriented, Medium Density Housing GOMDH, 2003).Although many of the units were vacant, as stated by Donald Luxton’s report (2012), the tenants that did occupy the remaining units were protected, as phase one units were reserved for their return.

Map Location

References City of Vancouver. (2012) “Protecting Heritage Sites Through Legal Designation,” Heritage Designation. Retrieved from: designation.aspx designation.aspx Da Silva, Megan and Jane Henderson, 2011, “Sustainability in Conservation Practice,” Journal of the Institute of Conservation, 34.1, pp Grdadolnik, Helena. (2005) “Garden City,” Canadian Architect. Retrieved from: city/ /?&er=NA city/ /?&er=NA Mole Hill Community Housing Society. (2013). Providing and Advocating for Secure,Affordable Housing. Retrieved from: