The District of West Vancouver plans to raise the Ferry Building to protect it from rising flood levels due to impacts of climate change.
The building will be raised by 5 feet.
A grant has been received to help fund the project. However, the building is heritage designated and a heritage alteration permit (HAP) is required for the proposed work.
Council will be mull over the permit at an upcoming council meeting on January 25.
West Van also plans to restore and rehabilitate the foundation, roof, windows, siding, paint and lighting.
District will also upgrade seismic and building systems, and will provide publicly accessible washrooms on the west side of the building.
The washroom addition is proposed to straddle the property line between 1420 Argyle Avenue and 1414 Argyle Avenue and between 1414 Argyle Avenue and 101 14th Street.
“Given that the Ferry Building will be raised by approximately five feet above its current elevation, a set of stairs and gently sloping accessible path will be required to access both the gallery and the washrooms,” according to a staff report to the council.
The Ferry Building Gallery, also known as the West Vancouver Ferry Building, is a wood-frame building that was constructed in 1913.
Located on a narrow lot on the south side of Argyle Avenue, it was designated as a Municipal Heritage Property in 1987.
The primary heritage value of the Ferry Building Gallery is in its association with West Vancouver’s ferry and bus services, both of which were essential to the development of a community.
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