Description of Historic Place

The historic place at 163 East Hastings Street in Vancouver is a two-storey stone Edwardian commercial structure. It is one of a pair of two-storey buildings set between larger buildings.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of 163 East Hastings Street lies in the historic relationship between this area and the economy of early Vancouver. At the turn of the twentieth century, this area of town was developed as a shopping area as commercial activity spread outward from its early roots in Gastown. As the young city grew, so did its commercial district. It was the home of several hotels, lodgings, and small retail outlets which were established to serve the growing blue-collar population.

Built in 1901-1903 by architects Parr and Fee for George Munro, this building is typical of the two- to three-storey buildings erected with a commercial operation on the main floor and accommodation above. Although the early residents of the area had been chiefly male, the development of efficient transportation links meant that families could journey to the new city. Businesses which served the needs of female clients soon were established. In this site, this included a millinery store and a fancy goods retailer. A series of tenants occupied the building during the 1920s, while the focus shifted to men's activities in the 1940s with the Business Men's Club and the East End Tradesman's Club.

There is also value in the architectural design. The simple design reflects the growing trend of public taste from the highly-decorated Victorian facades to the more refined ornament of the Edwardian era. This building and its neighbour to the east are dwarfed by the much taller rooflines of nearby hotels, lending a 'sawtooth' effect to the skyline.

Source: City of Vancouver Heritage Conservation Program

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of 163 East Hastings Street include:
- its rectangular form, modest scale and massing
- built right to the lot line with no setbacks
- its functional relationship with other buildings within the Hastings Street strip and adjoining neighbourhoods
- its similarities with the adjacent two-storey building and contribution to the 'sawtooth' profile of the streetscape
- characteristics of the Edwardian commercial style including: the heavy sheet metal cornice on the front of the building, exterior details including the rusticated sandstone construction and lintels, double-hung one-over-one sash on the second storey, and pigmented structural glass panels on the main floor over the storefronts
- continued use as retail shops