Have you ever noticed that once someone fixes up one house, the neighbouring houses quickly follow? Whether or not you agree with the “broken window theory” that neglected neighbourhoods and buildings attract crime and vandalism, there is considerable evidence that the maintenance and restoration of homes creates a snowball effect with other homeowners following suit. Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a subscriber to that theory which is a key reason we started offering grants to help individual homeowners with the repair, restoration and maintenance of their homes that are listed on the Heritage Register. There are many examples of Vancouver neighbourhoods that have seen this kind of revitalization and we have been lucky enough to not only be able to help, but also learn the wonderful stories behind the house and how to do new things such as paving their sidewalks or driveways, the people who lived there originally and the people who are restoring it now.
Strathcona, on the south-eastern edge of the Downtown Eastside, is an excellent example of an aging neighbourhood that has been revitalized over recent decades. The Strathcona Porch Project, funded by the Bronfman Foundation in 1980, gave a real kickstart to the restoration of many homes. In 1999, the VHF threw our hat into the ring and created the Historical Vancouver True Colours paint palette in partnership with Benjamin Moore. We also started giving grants to help homeowners cover the cost of re-painting to authentic colour schemes. Pictured above is the before and after of a row of lovely 1898 Victorian houses on Hawks St. They were repainted in 2006 with the help of True Colours and in 2012 a row of houses across the street began to show signs of increased repair and maintenance.
Taking on the rehabilitation of a heritage home that has fallen into disrepair can be about more than just fixing up a place to live. The ripple effect of reclaiming neighbourhoods while honouring their history is so vital to the character of Vancouver. Repainting and restoring a home’s exterior isn’t just about making a house look pretty. It adds to our community pride, our sense of place and our passion for where we live.
Want more? Read about Paige Gardiner and her personal mission to restore a 1903 prefab house…
