Historic building with stone facade torn down on Vancouver's Main Street

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeReal EstateNewsLocal News Historic building with stone facade torn down on Vancouver's Main Street The White Block was built in 1903, when Main Street was called Westminster Avenue Author of the article: By John Mackie Published Sep 23, 2026 Last updated 13 minutes ago 3 minute read Join the conversation A demolition at 327 Main St. in Vancouver. The modest two-storey building was built in 1903, when Main Street was called Westminster Avenue. But it wasn’t on the city’s heritage register, and as a commercial structure, the city said no recycling was required as it was torn down. PHOTO BY ARLEN REDEKOP /PNG Article content During Vancouver’s pioneering days, many commercial buildings had a stone facade. But precious few have survived — and one of them just got demolished at 327 Main St. Article content The modest two-storey building was built in 1903, when Main Street was called Westminster Avenue. But it wasn’t on the city’s heritage register, and as a commercial structure, the city said no recycling was required as it was torn down. Article content Article content Article content This was evident last week, when a worker on a lift was smashing through second-storey windows with a long piece of wood. While the windows were being smashed in front, two excavators ripped apart the building at the back and crunched the remains. Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Heritage advocate Robert McNutt thinks it’s a waste. In his view, the building facade could have been retained and reused in a new development, which has happened numerous times in the past. Article content But he says several old buildings in the Downtown Eastside have been demolished in recent years, with no salvage. Article content “They got The Only Seafood (building) down like that,” he said. “They got the Balmoral Hotel down like that.” Article content In fact, the west side of the 300-block of Main Street has all been demolished, aside from the Dawson Building at Hastings and Main. Article content Several buildings were torn down in June and July for a social housing project at 315 Main St., including the Imperial Theatre, which had been a thriving…