The Vancouver School Board announced today that they recommend that General Gordon elementary school be demolished.
Vancouver School Board staff have identified a preferred option for the seismic mitigation project at General Gordon Elementary School. The preferred option (Concept 4) is a completely new replacement school on the southern portion of the site. The general public will have an opportunity to express their views on the preferred option at the Open House on Tuesday June 21st at the General Gordon gym from 3:00 to 7:00pm.
The recommendation from follows several years of discussion and a six-month planning process that included an examination of the building structure, education program, heritage character, design options and traffic management, the board said in a news release today. Staff considered 17 options in consultation with parents, school staff, community organizations, the City of Vancouver and Heritage Vancouver.
The existing structures, built in 1912 and 1922, are in poor condition and the cost of upgrades would be significantly higher than a replacement school, the release states.
The recommedation will be discussed today at an open house from 3pm to 7pm in the General Gordon gymnasium.
Last modified: June 21, 2011
As a student I attended General Gordon Elementary school. I’m saddened to hear that the front portion of the school will be demolished. We should consider preserving some of the artifacts from this school’s front portion. Perhaps donate them to the Museum of Vancouver (formerly Vancouver Museum). As a community we should find a compromise. General Gordon school is a part of early history of Kitsilano and Vancouver city. Yes we do need structurally safe schools and those that are up to earthquake code that is understood. For example they kept some of the former Woodward’s building and the same is true for the former Opsal Steel plant now being developed into apartments. Vancouver is a young city but for what we have has our architectural heritage is disappearing very fast.
Thank you.