Vancouver city council has unanimously voted to demolish the former Dunsmuir Hotel, citing it as a risk to public safety due to its deteriorating condition. Holborn Properties, the owner of the building through a subsidiary, has been given 21 days to carry out the demolition at its own expense. The 115-year-old structure has been vacant since 2013 with a leaky roof contributing to its decay over the years. While the building is listed on Vancouver’s Heritage Registry, it lacks protection under heritage laws, sparking a debate about “demolition by neglect.”
Vancouver council has also directed staff to explore legal actions against Holborn for its apparent negligence leading to the loss of the historic site. Holborn denies allegations of deliberate neglect, stating that it had repeatedly proposed redevelopment plans to the city over the past decade, none of which were accepted. Critics, like retired architect Michael Geller, argue that Holborn sought a clean slate for development rather than conserving the heritage building. Housing advocate Jean Swanson suggests imposing penalties on Holborn, highlighting the potential for replacement fees reaching $50 million under the city’s Single Room Accommodation bylaw.
The council is also considering charging Holborn for the 167 lost rooms, but Holborn disputes the applicability of these fees, claiming the building had been reclassified from Residential to Commercial by the city in 2021. Holborn maintains that the previous owner replaced SRO units with another facility in 2004. Despite these challenges, the company says it is working to meet the demolition deadline, while committed to creating a project that benefits the community in the future.
