Saturday Travel Feature

The Getty Center
Brentwood, Los Angeles, California

"The purchase of the land upon which the Center is located -- a campus of 24 acres (97,000 m²) on a 110-acre (0.45 km²) site in the Santa Monica Mountains above Interstate 405, surrounded by 600 acres (2.4 km²) kept in a natural state -- was announced in 1983^[4]. The top of the hill is 900 feet (270 m) above I-405, high enough that on a clear day it is possible to see not only the Los Angeles skyline but also the San Bernardino Mountains to the east as well as the Pacific Ocean to the west^[5][6].

"In 1984, Richard Meier was chosen to be the architect of the Center^[7]. After an extensive conditional-use permit process,^[4] construction began in August 1989.^[8]The construction was significantly delayed, with the planned completion date moved from 1988 to 1995 (as of 1990)^[9]. By 1995, however, the campus was described as only "more than halfway complete".^[4]The Center finally opened to the public on December 16, 1997.^[3][10] Although the total project cost was estimated to be $350 million as of 1990^[9], it was later estimated to be $1.3 billion.^{[11]"  (See Link.)}

"USGS satellite image of the Getty Center. The complex of buildings at bottom right is the Museum. In addition, "a circular building to the west of the Central Garden houses the Getty Research Institute.... Two buildings to the north and east of the Arrival Plaza house the Getty Foundation, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the J. Paul Getty Trust administration offices."^[1] Microsoft Virtual Earth view of the Center at a different angle." (See Link.)



"The architect Richard Meier has exploited the two naturally occurring ridges (which diverge at a 22.5 degree angle) by overlaying two grids along these axes. These grids serve to define the space of the campus while dividing the import of the buildings on it. Along one axis lie the galleries and along the other axis lie the administrative buildings. The primary grid structure is a 30-inch (760 mm) square; most wall and floor elements are 30-inch (760 mm) squares or some derivative thereof. The buildings at the Getty Center are made from concrete and steel with either travertine or aluminium cladding.^[1]

"Throughout the campus, numerous fountains provide white noise as a background. The initial design has remained intact, however benches and fences have been installed around the plaza fountains to discourage visitors from wading into the pools... The north promontory is anchored by a circular grass area which serves as a heliport in case of emergencies, and the south promontory is anchored by a succulent plant and cactus garden. (See top photo.)The museum has a seven-story deep underground parking garage with over 1,200 parking spaces. An automated three-car, cable-pulled tram takes passengers to and from the museum.

"The collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum on display at the Getty Center includes "pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts; and 19th- and 20th-century American and European photographs"^[2]." (Link.)

Photos: Top photo of roof top of the south promontory taken in  1998 by SW.  Extensive sattelite photo of complex by Wikipedia in Link.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Center

Friday, November 26, 2010

No Demolition Necessary

Looking down from the arched Fell Avenue bridge leading to the North Vancouver Auto Mall you can see a large vacant field to the east.   This area at 788 Copping Street is bordered on the north side by the train tracks. (Note freight train in photo above.) 

If the amendment to the zoning bylaw was approved at the November 15th meeting of the City Counsel, the lot will be vacant no more.  Harbourside Landing Ltd./Bunting Coady Architects has plans for three buildings on this property.  It will be an Industrial Park with retail stores and a caretaker's suite.  The total development area of the three buildings will be 63,030 square feet.  One hundred motor vehicle surface parking stalls and 25 bicycle parking stalls are proposed. (NSNews, 10/10/10.)

Col. J. P. Fell NVMA Photo #9826, 191_

Fell Street on the western border of the 788 Copping Street lot was named for land developer and organizer of North Vancouver's  WWI Sixth Field Company of Canadian Engineers, James Pemberton Fell.  (See photo above.)  The Armoury on Mahon Avenue is also named for him. (The Ambitious City.)

The foot of Fell Street and the Fell Street Fill  runs from below the train tracks to Burrard Inlet.  In 1933 it was the site of the M B King Sawmill and the Pressure  Pipe Factory.   In the 1940's there was also a British Empire factory addition, building of Canadian Mixermobile office and storage shed, and building of the Kavanagh MP Soap Factory.  Since the year 2000 it has become the site of the North Shore Auto Mall, several office buildings, and a school.  There are still a few large vacant lots waiting for development at Fell and the waterfront.

Photo: Of 788 Copping Street taken in November 2010 by SW.

              Of James Pemberton Fell, The Ambitious City, by Warren Sommer,

              page 124.

Link: http://www.cnv.org/attach/2010%2010%2025%20item%2007%20attach%2004.pdf

Link 2: http://wiki.worldflicks.org/jp_fell_armoury_-_39_combat_engineering_regiment.html#coords=(49.322531,-123.08529)&z=19

Happy U. S. Thanksgiving
Celebrating With Jefferson

The Jefferson Apartment building at 614 Jefferson Street sits on the bluff above the heart of downtown Spokane.  The apartment building was constructed circa 1910 in this area known as the lower South Hill.  The homes and apartment buildings of this area remain dusty jewels of  "Spokane's Age of Elegance" 1890-1910.  No matter the size of these homes they are iced with cornices, moldings, arches, lintels, bay windows, pediments, pilasters, verandas, scrolled brackets, finials, and columns.  Many of the original details can still be seen; this is the case with the three storey Jefferson.

Note the original diamond outlined leaded glass front door and side panels.  The brass kick plate runs up both sides of the door and ends in a decorative cut out. (See photo below.)

Front entrance and doorway.

The front interior staircase also dates back to 1910.  The carved spindles, rosettes, and square topped knoll posts shine in the dark wood. (See photo below.)

Front interior steps leading to third floor

The  original features in each apartment have been maintained.  Apartment #4 has a hallway leading to one bedroom, a bathroom,  a living room/dining room, and a hall pantry leading to the kitchen, and another small bedroom/office.  In the living room of apartment #4  are the 1910 built in buffet  and windows looking out to the side yard and .  Similar to the front door, the buffet again has the  diamond shapes in the leaded glass windows of the doors of the upper shelves. The handles on the lower drawers are in the original style.  The dark wood is not only on the buffet, but on all the doors and moldings. (See photo below.

Apartment #4 built in buffet

Between  the living room/dining room and the kitchen is a hallway pantry with a built in buffet covering two of the walls.  The  upper shelves can be seen through the glass in the doors.  A wide counter separates the shelf area from the lower drawers and cupboards with their original pulls.  And yes, this lower area includes a pull out flour bin. (See photo below.)

Apartment #4 built in buffet in hallway pantry

From the hallway pantry with its built in buffet is the entrance to the kitchen with windows looking out the back of the building.  Off one side of the kitchen is the hallway to the back entrance and stairs to the street.  Off the other side of the kitchen is a small bedroom/den/office, again with windows to the side yard.

The bathroom to the right of the front hall boasts the original bathtub with its claw feet. (See photo below.) The floors throughout the apartment are the original wood.  And in the basement the foundation walls are built of  large rough stone.

Apartment #4  Original claw foot leg on the bathtub

Note: Laura Wilson, daughter of Suzanne Wilson lived in apartment #4 at the 614 Jefferson in 2002 and 2003 while attending Gonzaga University where she received a Masters Degree in Education.

Photos: Exterior taken in 2010 by SW.  Interior taken in 2002 by SW.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

1904 Gross Residence

"GROSS RESIDENCE, 83 Chesterfield Avenue, circa 1904.  This was the home of Charles Gross, a Vancouver boot and shoe dealer who operated a store on Carrall Street.  The Gross Residence, whose builder was Albert Nye, is one of the earliest surviving homes in the City of North Vancouver, and as such serves as a reminder of the original residential nature of the area.  Although it has been altered during its conversion to restaurant usage, the form of the residence remains substantially intact." (See Reference.) 

This description and the 1904 photo below, of the Gross family on the veranda, are in the City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.

NVMA Photo #2778

The City Directories indicate that in 1980 the house was owned by  the Japanese Village Restaurant (North Shore) Ltd.  And in 1991 the property was reported as "Vacant".  The photo above indicates that the restaurant was named the Ming Court at the time of its closer.  A North Shore Outlook photo caption indicated that the restaurant closed two years before September 2000, or in 1998.  It had been vacant since that time. (See photo and caption below.)



In September 2000 there was a fire at the Ming Court building at 83 Chesterfield Avenue.  The burned building was demolished in October 2000.

October 2000

Unique Properties real estate listed the property for sale in 2010.  Their description indicates it is a 9,000 square foot corner lot with approximately 23,400 square feet of buildable space.  (See Link.) It is on the south west corner of Chesterfield Avenue and West 1st Avenue with a view of Burrard Inlet.  The asking price is $2,495,000.

October 2000

Reference: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory, 1994, page 87.

Fire and Demolition: October 2000.

Photos: Taken as part of Suzanne Wilson's Year 2000 Photography Project,

                 Your House/Our Home, on file at the North Vancouver Archives.

Link:http://www.uniqueproperties.ca/system/files/46/original/BRO_CHESTERFIELD_RIGHTED_04NOV09.pdf?1259886867

Front of house

Tuesday, November 23, 2010
"That's Jack London's Place"

The house at 1340 Sunnyside Drive sat on a lot in the maze of forest roads above the Upper Levels Highway in the Capilano area of the District of North Vancouver. The hum of the cars could be heard in the front yard. According to one of the neighbors the maze was the results of the 1958 development of the Upper Levels Highway and for that reason he had developed his own map laying out just how the streets were cut up in that area.  The same neighbor said of the house at 1340, "that's Jack London's Place".

Front and west side of house

But the house at 1340 didn't start out as "Jack London's Place".  It was first constructed as a $1500 commercial building in 1926 by S. Fraser.  The second structure was a $1000 house in 1933 by J. Stally.  E. Thomas added a $150 house alteration in 1939.  Then in 1950 the present house was built for $4500 by D. Broderick.  All this information was found in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives.  However City Directories 1926 to 1945 did not list the 1340 address or any of the owners from the Building Permit Book as being on Sunnyside Dr.  Martin P. and Jean Stally were listed on the 1200 West 26th Street block in 1935 and 1945.  That street is nearby and could possibly been a street changed by the building of the Upper Levels Highway in 1958.

Back of house

Much more is known about the 1340 Sunnyside Drive house after 1950 thanks to  Michael Kinnie.   "At 1340 Sunnyside Drive there was a small house built by a Mr. Don Broderick. The Broderick family was well known in North and West Vancouver. Don had just got married to his wife Esther, this would have been about 1950 and bought the lot from the people at 1330 Sunnyside Dr. (Mr. and Mrs. Paul Morgan) He built his honeymoon home and then moved Esther and their two cats in. Soon Esther had a baby girl whom they named Norma. I was a very frequent visitor at their house. In the summer of 1951 I had failed grade three and was suppose to go to summer school; I did not like school at all and was devastated. Esther Broderick had been a school teacher so my parents made arrangements for me to get some extra help from Mrs. Broderick each weekday morning throughout the summer from 10:00 to noon. This went very well, I was on a one to one basis with somebody I was very fond of and would do my best for.

Back yard out building

"Don and Esther had another baby about 1952, a boy named Daniel, the house only had two bedrooms and they sold the little house and bought a large house in the 1100 block West 21st. Street that had belonged to their friends the Franklin's. Don Broderick was the model husband, he worked in a mill full time and then would come home and help Esther with the housework and put the children to bed.

Backyard green house structure

"The house was then bought by a Mr. and Mrs. Leckie, (Lorne and Doreen.) They had a little girl and later a little boy with flaming red hair. I do not remember these children's names. Mr. Lome Leckie was named Lome after a well known steam tugboat that was called "The Lome". They lived there for many years and then moved out to Lynn Valley. Doreen Leckie and my mother were great friends and saw each other everyday. The Leckie's were nice, kindly people. Shortly after the move to Lynn Valley Lorne Leckie died very suddenly. He was a lot older then his wife. He was a veteran of world war two and had served with the eighth army in Africa.

Back-side yard in ground bathtub

"The house was then purchased by a childless couple named London, his first name was Jack, hers was Zelda. They had cats which all had 'Z' names. My brother Allan became very fond of them and they likewise of him. My brother Allan was born in 1954, when I was just going on 12. I did not know the London's very well because by the time they moved into the neighbourhood I had left home. I did however do business with Jack London some because he use to bring his saws into my shop for sharpening. I do not know if they are still there at this writing in 2006, but they were there in 1995 when I called them to tell them that my brother had died the year before." (See Link.)

Front yard shed

Jack London was listed in the 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory.  It seems his interests were evident throughout the property and as can be seen in the included photos.

Demolition: Permit applied for November 2010.
Photos: Taken in November 2010 by SW.

Link: http://sunnysideatgraystone.com/history.html

 Monday, November 22, 2010

Naas Family-40 Years

The house at 527 North Dollarton Highway at the entrance to Deep Cove with a view of Burrard Inlet was built in 1954.  (See Link.) In 1955 W. G. Babcock built a $300 garage and in 1962 an $800 house addition.  Those listings are in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives.  However, in the 1950 and 1960 City Directories the street of North Dollarton Highway was not even listed.

Front yard view of Burrard Inlet

In 1971  the 527 North Dollarton Highway  owner was again recorded as E. Nass.  Einar and Sylvia Naas were listed as the owners in 1980.  At this time Einar Naas was employed as a salesman at Davidson and Company.  In 1991 and 1995/1996  Einar Naas was listed as retired and still the owner.  Robin Naas, a clerk at N R was  listed as a resident.  The 2008/2010 North and West Vancouver Phone Directory continues to list Einar Naas as living at 527 North Dollarton Highway.  That is 40 years ownership of the house for the Naas family at the entrance to Deep Cove with the view of Burrard Inlet

A 2010 real estate ad describes the property as being on a 15,015 square foot lot and the house having 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.  It was listed for sale at $925,000. (See Link.)

Demolition: Permit applied for in October 2010.

Photos: Taken in November 2010.
Link: http://www.teamtaylorrealty.ca/Properties.php/Details/17

Note the flying buttresses on the rear of the church

Sunday Church Feature
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Paris, France

"Notre Dame de Paris (French for Our Lady of Paris), also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra (official chair), of the Archbishop of Paris, currently André Vingt-Trois. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe. It was restored and saved from destruction by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, one of France's most famous architects. The name Notre Dame means "Our Lady" in French, and is frequently used in the names of Catholic church buildings in Francophone countries. Notre Dame de Paris was one of the first Gothic cathedrals, and its construction spanned the Gothic period. Its sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism, unlike that of earlier Romanesque architecture.

Rose Window and panel windows beneath

"The cathedral suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French Revolution in the 1790s, when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. During the 19th century, an extensive restoration project was completed, returning the cathedral to its previous state." (See Link.)

"Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses (See top photo.) around the choir and nave. After the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern.

Tourists in front of church, note rose window and panel windows beneath

Construction: Ground breaking in 1163 and completion in 1345.

Photos: Copies of 1978 post cards.
                 Photo of tourists, Laura Wilson who had her 8th birthday in Paris that
                 year, and brother Richard Wilson age 9 taken by mother Suzanne
                Wilson in 1978.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_de_Paris