Dear Editor,
When Metro bought Crippen, there existed over 100 cottages that had belonged to Union Steamship resort. They decided some, which were scattered amongst some old evergreen trees, would be torn down. A walk along Maple Trail, behind the new parking lot, from Snug Cove to the fish ladder, only 30 years ago, saw close to 100 cottages complete with gardens and a community of people. Today, there’s nothing to conjure the once thriving resort.
Fourteen cottages in Davies Orchard remained tenanted. In 1989 a backhoe arrived, demolished two and led to the creation of Bowen Heritage. Metro wanted to tear them all down, but were persuaded to support a “heritage precinct” from the causeway to festival field. For 15 years Metro wrote support letters enabling Bowen Heritage to get sizeable federal, provincial and local grants to fully restore two and stabilize two cottages, plus create an information sign about the Union Steamship Company and a bronze statue. In addition, Metro paid, with your tax dollars, to fully restore two more cottages plus sewage hookups for 9. That left 4 needing work. The 2008 recession triggered 10 years of inaction. Metro took the position that they couldn`t justify any work until they had an overall policy for heritage structures, then not until they had a plan for Davies Orchard. They have just tabled that plan.
All the tenants were evicted by the late 1990`s and the area rezoned to “tourist accommodation”. The Union Steamship Marina contracted to manage two cottages as short-term rentals. Metro decided that there could be only “non-exclusive regional use” of buildings but were unable to describe what that meant. Recently, they indicated nine uses were acceptable: museum, short-term rentals, bookable space, nature house, landscape display, storage, food outlet, caretaker lodging, and artist studios. Only the first three uses, and notably not the last two, although of particular interest to Bowen, were recommended.
Bowen Heritage has long had a dream of all 10 cottages, and some infill, being restored and put to self-sustaining, productive use with a museum, a nature house, offices, meeting rooms, tourist accommodation in eight (families in overcrowded Vancouver are our target audience), organized educational tours, small group conferences, artist retreats and workshops, an artist in residence programme during the off-season, used books, art galleries, a demonstration children’s garden, logs for seating: people, programmes and activities under a roof! Warm and dry during eight months of rain.
There is a price tag - less than we expected on the most neglected. Whatever amount Metro decides for restorations, we want an opportunity to leverage that into matching funds and for Metro to help with fundraising. Other money slated for demolition - which will be considerable given their current knowledge of hazardous old paint and the mold that has flourished with neglect - to be redirected for stabilization, a reprieve. Having just had received their first offer of a plan, we want a chance to demonstrate local and regional support for more uses.
Bowen Heritage has invested years of time, money and free labour into Davies Orchard. When the staff report was tabled, we asked for a chance to offer a 3rd option to save more cottages, but that was never put to a vote. Metro will only offer two options: demolish 4 or 6. Both include “saving” the four that have already been saved. They prioritize better access to the beach [there is no beach in Davies Orchard], better trails and bike paths and more green space. They want better car circulation and more parking, a big change from their previous pedestrian emphasis. They want to improve views, moving trees to fill in cleared areas. They suggest commemorating cottages with plinths.
Granted, it is much easier to mow lawns instead of maintaining, advertising, painting, renting and planning events. But, as one of the original directors for Bowen Heritage, I know of a very long list of volunteers, who have peeled a lot of apples, scrubbed a lot of porches, watered trees, guided tours and sat on countless committees: none of that work was done to support such destruction. This community is capable of much more than Metro seems willing to tap into.
What can you do? It is important to join Bowen Heritage to show support, share information and attend public hearings. Ask questions and get responsive answers. Perhaps create placards, theatre, songwriting. Offer volunteer time to help with a long list of major or minor jobs on the perpetual lists. We want a reasonable chance to be allowed to make Davies Orchard the sweet cluster of charming wooden buildings it was designed to be. Come visit and sit on a porch with your feet on the railing, listen to the birds, feel the breeze. We`ll provide a cup of tea. We aren’t asking for increased taxes, rather donations and grant writing to build on whatever Metro will spend.
For more information, visit www.bowenheritage.org.
Judi Gedye
