Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
First Shaughnessy, between 16th and King Edward Avenues, a district with
the oldest and most valuable blue-chip properties in the metropolitan area,
where Vancouver's Anglo-Canadian elite has held court for several genera-
tions (Duncan 1994). There are also outliers of listings in other exclusive
districts, South-West Marine Drive and North-West Point Grey, smaller
areas of large properties with outstanding views. Lily Lam shares this terri-
tory though with a much more clearly defined core in the East Kerrisdale-
West Oakridge region, renamed South Granville by the real estate industry.
A ten-minute drive from Vancouver's International Airport, South Granville
has seen a dramatic level of settlement by Hong Kong and Taiwanese immi-
grants, and the replacement of 1950s ranch-style houses by large, two to
three storey homes since 1986.
The map of listings coincides spatially with neighbourhoods where there
have been large increases in ethnic Chinese residents since 1980. A detailed
study of a two-block section of one of the large lot streets in South Granville
showed an increase of Asian family names from 10 percent to 55 percent
between 1980 and 1990; the transition was associated with significant
replacement of older properties (Majury 1990).
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The aesthetic of pur-
chased houses reveals the cultural values held in high regard by this market.
Transported from Hong Kong is the conviction that 'a newer property is
better than its older counterpart, and that the larger its size, the better
its suitability and potential value to the owner' (Tang 2008: 358). So new-
ness is a primary characteristic, while size and a range of modern amenities
are also profiled in advertisements, often including a double kitchen
and an entertainment room. Numerology appears in addresses and asking
prices, with lucky threes and eights prominent.
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For example, a newish
Shaughnessy property was listed by Manyee Lui in 1996 for $3,368,000. It
offered a floor area of 6,000 square feet and the advertisement mentioned
a swimming pool, sauna, exercise room, home theatre, wok kitchen and
circular driveway. In 1997 a one-year old house in South Granville, on the
market for $1,680,000, listed the following amenities: 'Grand entry with
granite floor and skylight. Elegant living and dining rooms. Spectacular
kitchen with sub-zero fridge, wok kitchen, attached family room, four bed-
rooms up with en-suites. Huge rec room, exercise room, whirlpool, sauna
and bedroom down'.
In contrast older properties hold fewer promises and are replaceable.
'Over 6000 square foot old-timer on ¾ acre of First Shaughnessy land.
Ample room to create an estate of your dreams.' While size matters, the
existing 'old-timer' is seen as having no features worth mentioning. A bit
more sympathetic was an advertisement in the South Granville area,
though ominously for the existing property, the by-line cites only 'A pres-
tigious address'. A prestigious home exists not on the ground but in the
imagination of the purchaser: 'Build your dream home on this beautiful
