Heather & 16th, Vancouver, 1983

Though Vancouver continues to be convulsed by rampant, often poorly considered development, as it has been since I made photographs like the one above, a few pockets of what drew me to the city nearly forty-years-ago remain.

Such is the corner documented above, in 1983. A look via Google Street View (see below), often used to check my memories against contemporary reality, reveals that the dilapidated building that housed the equally decrepit Epicure Granger Grocery has benefitted from a transformative restoration. Ironically, the building is now home to the Tandem Bike Café and Heather Street is now a designated bike route — an initiative that Vancouver planners can be praised for.

All four corners of the intersection remain as I remember, with buildings in tact and well-maintained. Though I lived hand to mouth, sharing accommodations with a gang of fellow adventurers and artists, I have great memories associated with the short period I called this part of Vancouver’s South Cambie neighbourhood my home.

Got a million or two burning a hole in your pocket? You could take up residence in this little corner of paradise.