Haswell Residence

The Haswell Residence is valued as a part of the Grand Boulevard development, North Vancouver's most prominent garden subdivision, designed to attract affluent and prominent families to the North Shore of Burrard Inlet. Planning and development was initiated in 1906 by the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company. Following the lessons of the disastrous fires caused by that year's San Francisco earthquake, Grand Boulevard was laid out as a generous fire break. Prestige was guaranteed through minimum construction cost standards and restrictions on buildings and landscaping. Grand Boulevard is now part of a rectilinear system of boulevards and parks known as North Vancouver's "Green Necklace," which also includes Ottawa Gardens, Victoria Park and Mahon Park.

Built in 1910, the Haswell Residence is valued as representing the early development of the Grand Boulevard area, with large residences built on prominent corner lots. The house was built for Eliot Arthur Alexander Haswell (1879-1966), a timber broker, and is a fine example of the British Arts and Crafts style. Symmetrical in massing and set at the rear of its large lot, the house conveys a sense of prominence and grandeur. Surrounded by an array of mature plantings, the house and its yard are reminiscent of a grand estate. Its tall and imposing front facade and fine detailing contribute to its commanding presence.