06/02/2026
Neighbourhoods change and evolve over time, and few Vancouver communities illustrate this better than Mount Pleasant.
From industrial rezoning in the 1950s that reduced much of its residential character to waves of redevelopment and gentrification in the 1990s and beyond, the neighbourhood has undergone significant transformation. Alongside these changes has come a growing interest in retrofit and adaptive reuse projects that help preserve connections to the past.
In May, Vancouver Heritage Foundation partnered with Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions to host one of our signature Bricks & Brews events, pairing a heritage talk with a tasting.
Heritage consultant Elana Zysblat shared the story of the unlikely survival and reinvention of two houses on the same block in Mount Pleasant: the 1901 Coulter House and the 1909 Kumita Residence. While both buildings became temporary neighbours in a City works yard near False Creek as their original sites were redeveloped, each took a different path toward a new life, demonstrating the many ways heritage buildings can be successfully adapted for contemporary use.
The Kumita Residence, along with eight other heritage sites with equally compelling stories, will be featured THIS SATURDAY as part of Heritage Discovery Day 2026. Since 2003, this one-day self-guided tour has offered a unique opportunity to step inside spaces not typically open to the public while exploring the architecture, history, and communities that have shaped Vancouver.
Tickets are on sale until June 5th at 9am! Get yours at https://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/events/heritage-discovery-day/
