The District of North Vancouver is inviting the public to a redevelopment project for a historic home in Lynn Valley. Those interested can participate virtually in the public information meeting from January 22 to February 5. A public information meeting allows residents to ask questions about the proposal and share their thoughts.
EDG Homes has applied to develop three additional buildings on the Cross Residence heritage building site at 1120 Harold Street for six residential units with seven parking spaces. One of the parking spaces is for visitors.
The proponents plan to relocate the Cross Residence to the site’s southwestern corner within the property boundary lines, preserving its frontage facing Harold Road. They also plan to create two units within the existing structure’s area and rehabilitate it to construct a new principal house to the east, facing Harold Road, and two infill houses at the rear. They also plan to preserve original elements and restore missing, deteriorated, or heavily altered character-defining elements.
District of North Vancouver staff received a preliminary application in 2021, and a detailed application was received in 2023. A successful redevelopment project will lead to the proponents signing a Heritage Revitalisation Agreement with the District of North Vancouver.
The Cross Residence
Built-in 1905, the Cross Residence was among the earliest houses constructed in this part of North Vancouver during the Edwardian development boom period; it was built by and for the original owner, contractor, and farmer George Young Cross.
The Cross family, originally from New Brunswick, were early settlers in Lynn Valley, arriving the same year the house was constructed. George, his wife Mary, and their six children were the house’s original occupants. The Cross property was originally over 3.5 hectares in size, which the family farmed until it was subdivided in 1910, leaving themselves 0.6 hectares on the west end of the block between Harold, Ronayne, and Fromme Roads. George passed away in 1926 at 98, followed by Mary in 1930. Chester, the youngest Cross child and local soap maker, lived in the family home until the early 1940s, when he and his second wife moved to Burnaby.
In 1946, 1120 Harold Road was purchased by Martin and Edna Jensen. Originally from Manigotogan, Manitoba, the Jensens moved to the west coast following the Second World War, during which Edna had worked for on aircrafts. The couple raised three children in the Harold Road house. Martin Jensen passed away in 1967 and in 1968, Edna left her job at with the Hudson’s Bay Company and joined a Norwegian freighter company as a stewardess.
Between 1971 and 1978, Edna circumnavigated the globe three times. Edna continued to travel on her own into her late 70s, venturing to India in the 1990s. Edna continued to live in the Harold Road house into the 1980s, she died in North Vancouver in 2009.
most of know , whatever they propose in teh DNV will be bad in some way. the DNV has destroyed the fabric of lynn valley for ten years straight ….ask any resident……they redevelop the mall….now it stinks….and the parking lot makes no sense and causes endless traffic and fender benders…..
development never ends,,,,, and yet infrastructure not only stays the same, but they actually continually shrink down arterials for bike lanes and pedestrians…….300 million dollars spent down at mountain highway interchange, and the traffic remains brutal if not worse after 8 full years of shutdowns……but what do we expect with a council that thinks gay pride flags should be in every community center and rainbow sidewalks are the priority????? talk about heads up your u know what!
Today is 1-20-24 I live in the US. I randomly typed in my Grandfather’s daughter’s name “Amy Gurling Cross”Chester Cross’s first wife. I don’t know why I decided to do that? I noticed this was posted today and it came up in my search! She died Oct.21 1918. (Possibly in childbirth) and lived on Harold Road. She would have been my great Aunt. She must want me to help save ? the historic “CROSS HOUSE” Thank you Amy! Hope this helps!