A North Surrey home more than 100 years old is slated for demolition, as it’s been determined it would be too costly to restore.
The “Stagecoach House” – no one is sure how it got that name – was given a high heritage evaluation when Surrey reviewed all heritage inventory.
The 10658 125A Street home is a two-and-a-half-storey wood frame structure with prominent attic gables visible from Old Yale Road, several blocks away. It has a pyramid-shaped roof with dormers on two sides. The front of the home facade has unique stacked inset verandas, with arched openings on the top floor.
But for its state of repair, it looks like a keeper.
In fact, the current owner’s first choice was to keep the building as a heritage home, according to a City of Surrey staff report.
However, an engineer’s analysis showed that it would cost about $1 million to fix the home.
On Oct. 31, the issue of the Stagecoach House’s fate was brought before Surrey’s Heritage Advisory Commission (HAC), which had three choices.
The commission could give the home a heritage designation, limiting what can be done with the property. That would cost the city the difference in value as a result of that limitation.
The commission could withhold demolition approval until a development permit was issued on the property, essentially buying some time, but unlikely saving it.
Lastly, the commission could document the home with photos and allow the demolition.
The commission reluctantly chose the latter.
“Quite frankly, I’m sad to see it happen, but it’s a case where it’s too far gone,” said HAC Chair Coun. Dave Woods.
He noted Surrey has a good supply of heritage homes in need of protection, adding that the best-case scenario is if an owner will work with the city in helping preserve the property.
Some funding is available to those people to help defray some of the costs.
“The trick is to get to them when they’re in the state where they are still salvageable,” said Woods. That was not the case with the Stagecoach House.
The HAC recommendation to document and demolish will go to Surrey council before a demolition permit is granted.
