Burns Residence

The Burns Residence is a two-storey Edwardian Vernacular built in 1912 and located in South Vancouver, B.C.

The heritage value of the Burns Residence lies in its association with the growth of South Vancouver, the stable working-class occupation of the building (including the Burns family) and its architectural style and design.

The residence has historical value for representing the rapid growth of South Vancouver (established 1891) between 1910 and the start of World War I particularly along the boundaries adjoining Vancouver. The growth of South Vancouver and the Riley Park Neighbourhood came as a result of the demand for housing by individuals working in the downtown area and on the industrial waterfront during an economically successful time period. Development was further driven by the nearby extension of BC Electric Railroad service along 16th Avenue and Main Street. The house has value as an example of this period of speculative growth and rapid development; constructed and quickly sold by Thomas and Wilfred Angus who built a number of other residences in the area. In 1929 South Vancouver is amalgamated into Vancouver at which time the address started transitioning to its current street numbers.

The heritage place has historical value for its long-term use as dwelling for the working class. Originally constructed as a single-family dwelling, George Burns a barber with a storefront on Granville Street occupied the house from 1913-1920. The value of the building's use as a working-class residence is further demonstrated by the conversion of the building into a dual occupancy dwelling. In 1919, grocer, Michael R. Burns of 535 West 18th Avenue, divided the property into two separate (one upstairs and one downstairs) living units, making the addition of the second front door on the west end most side of the front façade. James Morrison Stewart who served as a bookkeeper for P. Burns and Co. Livestock and Meat Packers, and family occupied the house from 1924- 1947.

The historic place has architectural value for being a very good representative of the hipped-roof Edwardian Vernacular wood-frame house-types built at the time throughout the Lower Mainland and in much of Western Canada. Houses of this type were popular among new homeowners in the working class and middle class. Representative architectural details that have value include its full width recessed porch with its two side-by-side front doors proving access for each of the living units, the variations of its wood siding and window combinations.

The character-defining elements of the residence at 317 West 18th Avenue include:

- Its location on a residential lot in Riley Park.

- Its continuous residential use.

- The set of the building almost a half a floor above the grade.

- The massing and scale, which are compatible with many of the other houses in the neighbourhood.

- The low hipped roof with gabled attic dormer at the front (south) elevation and the soffit with decorative scroll cut brackets.

- The dentil moulding on facia boards dividing the main and upper floors on the north, east and west sides of the building

- The siding including the narrow wood lap siding on main and lower floors and front porch surrounds, square-cut shingles and dentil details on upper floor and in attic front gable.

- The surviving original wood-sash, double-hung, fixed and casement windows with wood sills and wood decorative lintels.

- The single rows of shingles below the sills of some of the upper story windows.

- The three front elevation two-over-three (fixed and casement) window combinations with patterned leaded over lights on the south elevation.

- The fixed leaded glass piano window on the east elevation.

- The two-over-three (fixed and casement) window combination with patterned leaded over light on the east elevation.

- The full-width hip roofed open porch, with evenly spaced square columns, low plain baluster and wood stairs. The inset of the west half of the porch where the doors are located.

- The off-centre dual entries and panelled wood front doors with, wood entablatures, original brass hardware and letter slots. Unit 317's ornate oval light and wood paneled side lights with leaded glass. Unit 319's single centred square light.

- The wood paneled door on the west elevation at ground level.