One of Burnaby’s oldest heritage houses could soon be torn down.
In a report that went before the city’s community heritage commission last week, the owners of the Alexander Evans residence – also known as Seven Gables – notified the city of their intent to remove the 114-year-old building from the property.
Staff noted that the planning department has extensively discussed several options to maintain the house with the owners, who purchased the lot at 9957 Sullivan St. in September. The options included subdivision of the property, conversion of the house to a duplex and construction of a new building within the existing property.
“On review of the available options, however, the property owners have indicated they intend to submit a demolition permit in the near future,” reads the report, citing financial issues with maintaining the historic house.
According to the report, the two-storey, six-bedroom house is in poor condition. Orange tarps cover part of the structure’s façade, the wood has aged considerably, slats from the surrounding fences are missing and a number of windows are broken or boarded up.
The Evans residence, built circa 1900, is one of 170 properties under the Burnaby Heritage Inventory and is recognizable for its Queen Anne style of architecture. It was originally built as a farmhouse for Evans, a civil engineer who served in the First World War and was killed in active service on Jan. 5, 1916.
The house is the oldest building in the Lougheed Town Centre.
“There are over 50 heritage resources protected by city council through Heritage Designation bylaws, Heritage Revitalization agreements and covenants,” reads the webpage for Burnaby’s heritage planning program.
While it is considered a heritage site, the Evans residence is not protected under any heritage agreement. The owners will, however, need to obtain a demolition permit for the house.
Heritage planner Jim Wolf declined to comment about the house until it reached the Community Heritage Commission. However, Wolf did not respond to phone calls made after the meeting, nor did councillors Nick Volkow and Colleen Jordan, who are members of the commission.
