Vancouver Hobbit House has sold. It’s one of three in Metro Vancouver designed by Ross Lort
The Hobbit House has sold. David Mooney already owns the properties to the west and is looking to incorporate the West Kind Edward property into a town house development.
Mooney works with W.T. Leung Architects and has retained heritage consultant Don Luxton. Luxton will figure how best to preserve the original bones of the house and incorporate it into a low-rise strata development.
It’s early days yet, but Luxton says the intent is to restore the house to its original appearance. He wants to keep the leaded windows and repair the distinctive shingle roof.
“Solving the building envelope issues will be the most challenging part of this heritage conservation project,” says Luxton. “Conversion to a strata use involves a very complex series of regulations.”
It doesn’t sound like a bad bargain. It would mean the restoration and upkeep of the original house on its original site, while Mooney tells me he would get 22 units instead of 18. Three of the units would be at the back of the Hobbit House and not visible from the street.
Have to think that having the Hobbit House as part of the development won’t be bad from a marketing standpoint either.
Other recent townhouse developments by Mooney include Boxwood Green on West 6th and Viridian Green at Collingwood and 4th.
Mooney wouldn’t tell me what he’s offfered, just that it was a fair price and nowhere near the asking of $2.86 million.
Part of the deal includes heritage designation.
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9 comments on “The Hobbit House Sold”
Too bad it’s on King Edward. If it was inside the 25th-oak-16th-Cambie perimeter it would remain intact.
They should move it – the Tearoom/Gift shop is a great idea.
Great scoop, Eve!
Typical Vancouver, tear down everything distinctive and throw up some crappy condos. They can name these condos after the landmark they’re tearing down, just the Richard and The Ridge.
Too bad it couldn’t be developed into a complex like Tatlow Park in Kitsilano near Point Grey Road and Waterloo and MacDonald. Small semi attached “English style” houses around a small green space. Or at least develop units that have the same cotswald cottage look of the original house! People would pay more for a tasteful development that is unique!
Regular Vancouver, destroy everything unmistakable and hurl some bad townhouses. They can name these apartment suites after the milestone they’re destroying, only the Richard and The Ridge.
[…] *See update Hobbit House sold […]
[…] and one in West Van designed by Ross Lort in the early 40s, and against all odds, all survive. Hobbit house at King Edward and Cambie is now part of a town house development. The future looked shaky for The […]
[…] Lort also designed Casa Mia for the Reifel family on Southwest Marine Drive. The others are on King Edward in Vancouver and on Braeside in West Van. The Lea House first appears in the city directories in […]