Park Drive

In 1911, the name was changed to Commercial Drive.

1902 August – “The ward foreman was instructed to blow out stumps at corner of Park Drive & Grant Street.” i

“A petition [to the BoW] for a sidewalk on Park Drive from Venables to Graveley Street … held over for estimates.”ii

1904 March: The City Engineer was instructed to report on the application of Robert G. Clarke, secretary of the Joint Official Boards of the Princess Street Methodist Church, to have Park Drive opened up from Venables to Powell Street.” In March the Board approved opening the Drive from Venables to Barnard. iii

1904 June – The Board approved the laying of a sidewalk on Park Drive from Venables to the new Methodist Church. Later that month they approved a 3-plank sidewalk on Park Drive from Venables to Grant. iv

1904 July — The Water Committee: “A number of residents at Grand View petitioned to have a water main laid of sufficient size for fire service, and the erection of a hydrant at the corner of Grant and Park drive. Referred to Engineer.v

1904 September – J.C. Downie made an application to have Park Drive opened from 1st Avenue to 4th Avenue. The Board of Works agreed to make a trail suitable for wagons. H.J. Duke – no doubt part of Dukes Ltd, the grocers – wrote to the Board of Works asking that a 3-plank sidewalk be laid and “cleaning up the corner of Park Drive and Graveley Street.” The request was referred to the Engineer for a report. vi

1904 August — Application was also made to extend Park Drive south of First, and the Board of Works agreed to build a “trail suitable for wagons” as far as 4th Avenue. vii

1905 February – A.A. McLeod asked for a plank walk on the eastside of Park Drive from Grant St to Charles Street and 72’ on Charles. The work was approved.viii

November 1905 — The Board approved a three-plank sidewalk on Venables from Woodland to Park Drives for $117, and on Park Drive from Graveley to First for $35. ix

1906 February — J.W. Fairchild asked that stumps be removed from the northeast corner of block 64 on Park Drive. Referred to Engineer. The Board of Works recommended that a 3-plank sidewalk be laid on Park Drive from Graveley Street to City Limits at a cost of $750. Mr Arthur (?) on behalf of “the residents of Park Drive asked that Park Drive be opened up and graded to City Limits as water was urgently needed here and the waterworks cannot lay pipes until the road is graded. The Board resolved to go out that Saturday to view the place.”x

1906 March — The Board of Works resolved to ask for $30,000 for Street Improvements in the following year’s estimates as follows: Park Drive, Graveley to City Limits, open & sidewalk, $4,000. F.G. Wilson and others asked that a proper grade be established on Park Drive between Venables and First Avenue. This was referred to the Engineer for a report, which was received and approved in April.xi

1906 March – 3 plank sidewalk laid on the west side of Park between Graveley and First. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 20 April.xii

1906 May — The Board recommended that Park Drive be cleared and rough-graded from 4th to 6th for $400; that Park Drive be graded from Venables to First; that BCER be asked to lower their tracks to the proper grade and that the earth be taken away and used to make the fill on Venables; that the sidewalk on Park Drive be proceeded with for $750; and that Park Drive be cleared from 6th to 14th for $1,950. xiii

1906 June – Appropriation #314 dated 18 June 1906 ordered the rocking of Venables from Clark to Park Drive (and then along Park Drive from Venables to Charles) at an estimated cost of $3,100. The work was reported as completed on 21 Dec 1906 at a cost of $1,330.36 labour and $1,697.85 materials.xiv

1906 June – Park Drive between 4th and 6th Avenues was cleared and rough graded. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 21 December. The stretch from 6th to 14th Avenues was cleared only under foreman Blair. xv

1906 July – Under By-Law 508 it was ordered that Park Drive be graded between Venables and First Avenue at an estimate of $1,500. The work was completed on 16 Jan 1907 at a cost of $1,237.xvi

1906 July – Park Drive was cleared and graded from Venables to First Avenue under foreman George Freeman. The work was completed on 16th January 1907. A 3-plank sidewalk laid on west side of Park Drive between First and 14th Avenues. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 10th August. xvii

1907 March — The City Engineer recommended plank sidewalks for Park Drive on the “east side from Grant to Graveley street … sidewalk on the west side of Park Drive from Charles to Graveley Street be lowered to suit the grade of the roadway … est. $150.”xviii

1907 April — City Engineer recommends “that the east side of Park Drive from Venables Street to First Avenue be graded so as to conform to the grade on the west side … Probable cost of work $1,500.” Also that month, a 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the east side of Park Drive between Grant and Graveley. The work was completed on 23rd April. xix

1907 May – The east side of Park Drive was cleared and graded from Venables to First Avenue. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 10 January 1908. xx

1907 June — Edwin Hayes petitioned the Board of Works “for the immediate opening of the lane between Bismark and Grant Streets and to the rear of the property on the east side of Park Drive as I have no means of placing lime or sand or other materials on the lot on which I am building, the grade on Park Drive having been cut down so that access in the front is impossible.”xxi

1907 July – Park Drive from 6th to 14th Avenue was cleared only under foreman G.H. Blair. The work was completed on 9 June 1908.xxii

1907 August — J.J. Miller and 9 other residents petitioned the Board of Works “to clear a right of way on an un-named street lying between blocks one & two in Block 136 Grandview and between William and Napier Street being about 260’ long. Several new houses are going up there and the residents are unable to obtain access to their homes unless the Council renders them sound assistance in the manner asked for.” xxiii

1907 September — J.H. Brown wrote to the Board of Works: “As I am about to commence building on lot 15 Block 144b facing 2nd Avenue Grand View would like to have street cleared. If this cannot be done at present would like to have stumps blasted close to said lot.” Four residents petitioned the Board “to have a 3-plank sidewalk from the corner of Victoria Drive and Venables to lots 5-8 in Block 21.” xxiv

1907 September – 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the east side of Park Drive from Venables 170’ south. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 15th October.xxv

1908 June — 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the east side of Park Drive from William to a point 200’ south of Venables. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 24th June. Also that month work began on grading and rocking Park Drive from Hastings to 6th Avenue. George Freeman was again the foreman and the work was completed on 12th December. xxvi

1908 September – New sewers were laid on Park Drive between Venables and First Avenue. Mr. Sutch was the foreman and the work was completed on 15 February 1909. xxvii

1908 October — 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the east side of Park Drive from William to Charles. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 12th November.xxviii

1908 December — 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the east side of Park Drive from Graveley to First. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 8th January 1909.xxix

1909 May – Park Drive from Venables to 6th Avenue was rocked “between the tracks.” xxx

1909 June — “I have let the contract for the building of stores on the double (NE) corner of Park Drive and 3rd Avenue, and it is absolutely necessary that I should receive from you the permanent grade at this point. There will be an entrance 60 feet from Park Drive on 3rd Avenue,”xxxi

1909 June — 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the east side of Park Drive from First to 2nd Avenues. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 23rd July.xxxii

1909 July – 8’ concrete sidewalk proposed for both sides of Park Drive between Charles and First Avenue. Cost $13,560.80 with city paying $1,995.11 under By Laws 563 and 624.xxxiii

1909 July – New sewers were laid on Park Drive between First and 2nd Avenues. Mr. Leather was the foreman and the work was completed on 28th July. xxxiv

1909 September — 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the east side of Park Drive from 2nd to 3rd Avenues. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 14th October. In addition, both sides of Park from Venables to 6th Avenue were graded for a concrete sidewalk. J. Watt was te foreman and the work was completed on 22nd November. xxxv

1911 February – 8’ concrete sidewalk proposed for both sides of Park Drive between 6th Avenue and 14th Avenue at a cost of $10,083.20 with city paying $970.20 under By Laws 563, 624 and 730. xxxvi

1911 May – 45’ wide asphalt pavement with concrete curbs proposed for Park Drive between Venables and First Avenue at a cost of $63,570 with the city paying $36,625. “Bitulithic paving, 45’ wide, is to be laid on Park Drive from Venables to First Avenue.” xxxvii

1911 October – It was proposed to widen Commercial Drive to 80’ between First and 16th Avenues by acquiring seven foot strip on both sides of the street. The cost would be $215,137, all as a local improvement. xxxviii The work was taking place in 1913.

The steel bridge over the cut was being built, with some delays, throughout the year.

1912 March – H. Burnham at 1636 Park received his sewer license on 29th March.xxxix

1912 April – 56’ wide asphalt pavement proposed for Park Drive between First Avenue and Broadway. The cost would be $83,129 of which the city would pay $47,920. There was also a proposal to purchase a parcel of land at the south west corner of Commercial & Venables for $4,000; proposal was defeated. xl

1913 June – 45’ asphalt pavement is proposed for Commercial Drive between Venables and First Avenue at a cost of $73,413.48 of which the city would pay $42,146.22.xli

See also: The Widening of Commercial Drive

i  Board of Works, Minutes 7 Aug 1902, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

ii  “News-Advertizer”, 26 Feb 1904, p.3

iii  Board of Works Minutes 3 Mar 1904, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2; World 4 Mar 1904, p.5

iv  Board of Works Minutes 2 Jun 1904; 30 Jun 1904, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

v  “World”, 1904 Jul 28, p.5; “News-Advertizer” 1904, Jul 26, p.2; 28, p.3

vi  Board of Works Minutes, 1 Sep 1904; 18 Sep 1904, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

vii  McSpadden quoted in Vancouver World 1904 Sep 30, p.1; “wagon trail”: Vancouver World 1904, Aug 23, p.3; Sep 2, p.6; Board of Works Minutes, 1 Sep 1904, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

viii  oard of Works Minutes, 2 Feb 1905, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

ix                Oddly what appears to be the very same sidewalk was discussed again on 14 December where the proposal was sent to the Engineer for a report. Board of Works Minutes, 30 Nov and 14 Dec 1905, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2.

x  Board of Works Minutes, 13 Feb 1906; 27 Feb 1906, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

xi  Board of Works Minutes, 6 Mar, 27 Mar, 24 Apr 1906, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

xii  WO 576, 8 Mar 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xiii   Board of Works Minutes, 22 May 1906, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

xiv  Appropriation #314 accounting, CVA, Series 356, Street Improvements 1905-1906, 134-D-5. A marginal note says “not complete.”

xv  WO 811, 9 Jun 1906, WO 815, 11 Jun 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xvi  By Law 508 accounting, CVA, Series 356, Street Improvements 1905-1906, 134-D-5

xvii  WO 916, 3 Jul 1906, WO 956, 25 Jul 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xviii  Vancouver Daily World 27 March 1907

xix  World 10 Apr 1907; see also WO 1338, 18 Apr 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2; WO 1308, 4 Apr 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xx  WO 1400, 9 May 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxi  Edwin Hayes to Board of Works, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 4th June 1907, 129-A-5 File 10

xxii  WO 1540, 30 Jul 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 127-B-2

xxiii  J.J. Miller et al to Board of Works received 1 Aug 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 13 Aug 1907, 129-A-5 File 15

xxiv  J.H. Brown to Board of Works dated 18 Aug 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 10 Sep 1907, 129-A-5 File 17; Petition to Board of Works dated 16 Aug 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 10 Sep 1907, 129-A-5 File 17

xxv  WO 1627, 25 Sep 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxvi  WO 2249, 4 Jun 1908; WO 2233, 1 Jun 1908, and WO 2302, 6 June 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxvii  WO 2469, 16 Sep 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxviii  WO 2528, 16 Oct 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxix  WO 2657, 1 Dec 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxx  WO 3077, 11 May 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxxi  William S. Hugo (?) to City Engineer, 2 June 1909, CVA, Series 343, City Engineer Letters Incoming, 129-A-4 File 4

xxxii  WO 3172, 8 Jun 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxxiii  Schedule published 7 July 1909, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxxiv  WO 3298, 10 Jul 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxxv  WO 3460, 14 Sep 1909, WO 3487, 28 Sep 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxxvi  Schedule published 17 Feb 1911, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxxvii  Schedules published 17 Feb 1911, 13 May 1911, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1; Western Call 2 Jun 1911, p.4

xxxviii  Schedule published 18 Oct 1911, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxxix  Sewer Dept. Register of Permits, CVA, Series 357, 134-A-2,3

xl  Schedules published 5 Apr 1912, 18 Apr 1912, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xli  Schedule published 6 June 1913, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1