Historic house safe from demolition for now

A historic house in Vancouver is safe from demolition - for now. Vancouver city councillors Tuesday gave the 94-year-old house temporary heritage protection for 120 days.

The house, built in 1922, is located at 1550 West29thAve. It was once used as a model 'Electric House' to showcase how electricity could be used in homes.

The decision was madeafter the city did a preliminary heritage inspection of the property.

"The house has or may have sufficient heritage value to justify conservation," the report says. It goes on to say temporary protection willallowtime to complete a heritage evaluation to determine if it's feasible to retain the house.

The unique past of the Tudor-style residence put it on the Heritage Vancouver Society's 2016 Top 10 Watch List.

It was the first Western Canadian house used to demonstrate the convenience of having a home wired up with electricity.

Thearchitectural firm that designed the home TownleyandMatheson also designed Vancouver City Hall and Point Grey Academy.

The house was listed for sale at $7.4 million last year and the owner submitted a demolition application in 2014.

BillYuen, manager of the Heritage Vancouver Society, said the temporary protection order is a blessing.

"This is encouraging for the society. It's good to see that the city is taking steps to do something to protectheritage values."