A recent development in downtown Vancouver has highlighted a broader challenge faced by the city concerning vacant buildings. The city council has ordered the demolition of the long-abandoned Dunsmuir Hotel, citing serious safety hazards after a thorough inspection. This decision has sparked a debate over who bears responsibility, with the city attributing the neglect to the property’s owner, Holborn Properties, while the company blames bureaucratic delays.
Experts, including Andy Yan from Simon Fraser University’s City Program, suggest this case is just the tip of the iceberg, pointing to a systemic issue with unknown numbers of derelict buildings in Vancouver. The city is in the midst of a housing crisis, making the lack of data on such structures particularly concerning.
Yan describes the situation as “demolition by neglect,” questioning whether Holborn Properties will face financial penalties or be required to provide replacement accommodations, given that the Dunsmuir Hotel housed 150 single-room units.
City councillor Peter Meiszner has acknowledged the lack of a comprehensive inventory or strategy for dealing with empty commercial properties. In response, city staff are set to establish a task force in 2025 to address this oversight. Meanwhile, merging the need for safety with potential heritage preservation, the council has decided that all heritage elements of the Dunsmuir Hotel will not be salvaged due to the imminent risk of collapse, despite initial intentions to preserve them.
The demolition continues against a backdrop of rising concerns over similar properties and a provincial legislative gap, which currently does not allow for taxes on vacant buildings aimed at discouraging neglect. Councillor Meiszner emphasizes the necessity to explore new measures to prevent future occurrences.
