If you’re a property owner in Metro Vancouver and looking for relief in this year’s property tax bill, well let’s just say it’s not going to happen. For property owners living in one of the priciest regions of the country—the West Coast real estate market keeps going up—and so does your bill.
The good news is that BC Assessment also released the 500 most expensive properties in the province today, and it gives you a glimpse into how the rich get richer.
Number 1:
Kitsilano tops the list with Lululemon founder Chip Wilson’s new 30,000+ SF home coming in at just under $58 million.
The second most expensive house comes with its own island (James Island) 780 acres, private docks and six guest cottages.
Belmont Avenue:
Five of the houses are on Belmont Avenue and all are new except for one from the ‘80s. In fact, with the exception of the 10th most expensive house on Point Grey Road built in 1962 there is only one heritage house in the exclusive top 10, which probably isn’t surprising given the frantic way we’ve been bulldozing these old beauties.
The Hollies:
Number 7 on the list is the Hollies at 1388 The Crescent, and the only house in the top 10 from Shaughnessy. At $27.4 million it’s less than a half the value of Chip Wilson’s sprawling modern mansion and the only one on the heritage inventory.
I wrote about The Hollies in At Home with History. The heritage inventory describes the 13,000 SF house as a “rambling Neoclassical Revival structure.” The house was built in 1912 by George E. MacDonald, general manager of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway. With its giant entrance and huge columns, it looks like it would be at home on some exclusive Greek island.
It’s deceptive from the front gate, but inside, the mansion has six bedrooms, five fireplaces, an indoor pool designed by Arthur Erickson in the ‘80s, a putting green, tennis courts, a playground, and a coach house. The MacDonald’s sold the house and its two acres of land in 1921 and it changed hands several times until 1950 when it became a guest house. At one point the owners paid their property taxes by renting out the mansion as a wedding reception hall.
Ironically, considering the exclusion of “Orientals” in the first stage of Shaughnessy’s development, in 1991 the address changed from 1350 to 1388 The Crescent to attract Asian buyers.
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7 comments on “The Top 10 Most Expensive Houses in BC: nine are in Vancouver”
Good grief…the Chip Wilson monstrosity struck me immediately. It’s an affront to the two architectural gems behind it.
Where is the sense of scale? Of taste? Of neighbourhood history? A house should fit in the landscape, not be imposed on it….
And what is that plastic abomination on the roof?
Shouldn’t
Not to mention the $11.3 million tear down right next door. I’m told the “hood ornament” is a moose….
Greed and a total lack of awareness of anything beyond the self centred world these people live in. The province should be doing something to stop this from being allowed to happen as they do in countries in Asia, Thailand being an example, where properties must be 51/49% Thai owned.
In standing by and not doing anything, the average person’s hopes and dreams can never be realized. And shame on the media and real estate sector for giving these people exposure and massaging their egos.
The Hollies is by far not the most opulent in First Shaughnessy. By virtue of its acerage it merits this 7 th place listing. Villa Russe at 3390 is a 1922 masterpiece once liated at $30,000,000 at nearly 11,000sqft with nearly6,000 sqft off terraces and the fact it sits 8′ above the property level givesit views to Mt. Baker to Lighthouse Park. It was enlarged then renovated by BC ‘s greatest industrialist Harold A. Jones ( himself living on a 4 acre estate on Tolmie) only child to twice its size with a 90’ great room with elevators for food and firewood. Its master has 3 dressing rooms and a $125,000 pink marble spa bathroom. Its living room can easily and did hold two grand pianos with a semi circulat black and white marble dance floor leading out the terraces and rosegarden. Its claim to international fame is that Sergio Rachmaninoff played in it. Rosemary on Selkirk and Matthews with its drive through is much grander than the Hollies.
Unfortunately, in Vancouver it’s all about the land. Gorgeous houses made of first growth wood and with details to die for are not considered valuable. Now we’re replacing them with houses that will last for 30 years if we’re lucky. And, I agree Rosemary is fabulous. Was lucky to get to go through it a few ago. I wrote about Villa Russe and Rosemary and many others in a chapter about Shaughnessy in my book At Home with History. The library carries it if you are interested. https://evelazarus.com/books/ Thanks so much for writing!
I was the painting contractor when Dr. Kevil owed it. The pool addition was incredible. It was designed by Arthur Ericson. we were there for over 1 year. I also received a special introduction while working. Kathleen Hepburn .My crew was sent home, i was allowed to stay. As long as i didn’t bother ms Hepburn. She actually approached me . We talked for a brief 10 minutes. That is a beautiful house that has left me with many memories. if you have questions you may call 780 604 2365
[…] have been a few changes in order, but the top 10 houses that I wrote about in 2015, are still the top 10 houses in 2017. The most prestigious address is Belmont Avenue which claims […]