Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Montreal on Marine

The Bank of Montreal originated in 1817 in Lower Canada. The name became Bank of Montreal in 1922. It funded building of the 1st canal in Canada from 1821 to 1825, the first railway in 1832, and the 1st telegraph in 1840. In 1859 it opened an office in New York and in 1861 an office in Chicago. It was in 1892 that the Bank of Montreal came to British Columbia, first to the city of Nelson. (See Link.)

The Bank of Montreal at 1120 Marine Drive was built in 1961 for $105,000. The square, multitoned brown brick, flat roofed building sits on the commercial corner of Marine Drive and Lloyd Avenue. In 1971 the branch manager was T. Roberts, in 1980 it was Sylvia Faoro, and in 1995/96 it was Douglas Mosby. Today that area of Marine Drive is receiving a face lift. The buildings in the 1100 block to the west of the bank have already been demolished as have those in the eastern half of the 1300 block.

The plan for the 1100 block is the "construction of three new buildings, including ground floor commercial space fronting Marine Drive, underground parking, an interior drive court, and condominium apartment units on the upper floors. The site is approximately 7284 m2 (1.8 acres) in size and the development proposes approximately 1589 m2 (17,100 sq. ft.) of commercial space and 129 condominium apartments. ... approximately 194 parking spaces (are) proposed." Link 2.

Demolition Permit: Applied for February 2010.

Photo: Taken in February 2010 by SW.

Link 1: http://www2.bmo.com/bmo/files/images/4/1/BMOHistoryEng.pdf

Link 2: http://www.dnv.org/article.asp?a=4294&c=771

Marine Dr. Strip Malls


Two strip malls, two automotive stores, and a parking lot in the 1300 block of Marine Drive in the District of North Vancouver are going to be turned into a four story building with retail on the ground floor and residences above. This will give housing in an area that there is none now. Marine Drive, the commercial thoroughfare of North Vancouver, stretches from the Lions Gate Bridge in the west to the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge, formerly called the Second Narrow's Bridge, in the east.  In this journey it changes its name from Marine Drive, to 3rd Street, to Main Street.


Oh yes, if you look in the bush in the trees above the strip mall you will see homes. These are the single family houses of West Keith Road on the bluff to the north of Marine Drive. To access the street from Marine Drive you have to climb the steep wooden steps a block east at Pemberton Avenue.  Or you can drive east to Mackay Avenue and turn North for two blocks to West Keith Road/West 19th Street.


So here is a fond farewell to the businesses sandwiched at the bottom of the bluff between Kypriaki's Taverna on the west and Bridgeman Avenue on the east: Budget Brake and Muffler, APG Car Sales with the Montessori Academy above, VANTECHS Computers, North West Pharmacy, Cartridge Plus, the Medical Clinic, Al's Vacuum, Package, Princess Nails, Depot/FEDEX, and Speedy Glass. And here is a "hello" to all the new residents in the 1300 block of Marine Drive.

Demolished: 2009

Photo: Taken December 1, 2009.