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History of Area The proximity to the business district of Vancouver and the availability of a quality water supply (Brewery Creek) made the area an ideal place for early industry and settlement. Early expectations were that Mount Pleasant would develop as Vancouver's fashionable "uptown." The area high above False Creek was named "Mount Pleasant" in 1888, after the Irish birthplace of the wife of H.V. Edmonds. Edmonds, clerk of the municipal council in New Westminster, was the original owner of much of Mount Pleasant.
By 1904, Mount Pleasant was home to a tannery, two slaughter houses, four breweries, and a train station. Industrial expansion brought residential development. By 1912, Mount Pleasant had a thriving residential population and community facilities such as an elementary school (the Kingsgate Mail site), a firehall, a first run theatre, and Vancouver's first skyscraper (the Lee Building). Mount Pleasant was also a terminus for the streetcar network.
During WWI, the tidal flats of False Creek from Main Street to Clark Drive were filled to provide a site for two large railway terminals and railyards. As a result, half of Mount Pleasant's waterfront was lost and the mouth of Brewery Creek was filled in.
By 1930, the character of the community was already established with block after block of houses on small lots, and a mix of residential and industrial uses. The 1930s brought changes to Mount Pleasant. Industrial expansion north of Broadway between Main and Cambie Streets resulted in the demolition of many homes. In 1935, the city expropriated park land at 12th Avenue and Cambie Street to build a new city hall. Mayor McGeer felt that the new location would link the area to the rest of the city.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the remaining houses in the industrial area disappeared and more industries, low-rise offices and warehouses moved in.
Today many older homes in south and west parts of Mount Pleasant have been beautifully restored. Notably amount these are seven homes with heritage plaques in the 100 block of W. 10th Avenue. The John Davis family, which lives in one of the houses, began in 1073 to restore 166 W. 10th, the oldest (1891) wood frame home in Mount Pleasant. This was the first house to be restored to its original splendour and let to the rejuvenation of the neighbourhood.
Source: Greater Vancouver Book by Jeff Veniot and Bill Simpson
The most amazing transformation has taken place in the South east False Creek area of Mount Pleasant, located between Cambie and Main Street, from the water to 2nd Avenue, Built on the last remaining tract of undeveloped waterfront land near downtown Vancouver, Southeast False Creek is now the home to the 2010 Olympic Village. After the games this community will eventually become home to 16,000 people. It will boast a community centre, elementary school, community garden, public plaza and much more.
For the first time in 20 years, the City of Vancouver is currently preparing, in consultation with businesses and the public, a new Community Plan for Mount Pleasant, it will deliver updated plans for the shopping areas and residential areas, action plans for pressing social concerns, and longer-term policies to address community-wide issues. Topics will include: safety, traffic, housing, parks, public, places, environment, character, culture and heritage. This will provide guidelines for the anticipated redevelopment of the area from the Olympic Village to 7th Street.
Mount Pleasant is a vibrant and exciting area with many changes anticipated to come to our community in the not too distant future. |
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