Skip to content
AuthentiCity
X
  • Home
  • About The Blog
  • About The Bloggers
  • Comment Policy
  • Links
  • RSS
Menu

Hogan’s Alley Before the Demolition

Posted on February 5, 2014October 8, 2020 by Sue Bigelow

Hogan’s Alley was the colloquial name for the lane between Union and Prior Streets, roughly between Main Street and Jackson Avenue. It was home to Vancouver’s first black community. Many of its buildings were demolished as part of the Georgia Viaduct Replacement project.

Two portraits of Fielding William Spotts, age 78, at 217 1/2 Hogan's Alley, Vancouver. May 28, 1935. Reference code AM54-S4-: Port N3.2.
Two portraits of Fielding William Spotts, age 78, at 217 1/2 Hogan’s Alley, Vancouver. May 28, 1935. Reference code AM54-S4-: Port N3.2.

Replacement of the Georgia Viaduct was approved in a 1965 plebiscite. The old viaduct connected downtown Georgia Street with the part of Georgia Street east of Main Street. The replacement would be much stronger and larger to accommodate increased traffic volume. It was relocated to connect Dunsmuir Street and Georgia Street downtown with Union Street and Prior Street. The relocation allowed room for a wider roadway and connection with an anticipated east-west freeway which, in one proposal, would run along Union and Prior Streets.

The relocation required that existing buildings be purchased and demolished. Inspections and market-value appraisals were made before the properties were acquired. Data gathered included the lot size and position, interior and exterior construction materials, number of rooms on each floor, heating system, annual income from the property, and building depreciation1. Black-and-white Polaroid images were taken as part of the appraisal process and these images are linked by address to the coloured blocks on the map below.

HogansAlley-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1The photographs were created as part of the following file: City Corporate Services fonds, Series 168 City owned land sold, [Georgia Viaduct replacement] – acquisitions completed, 1967-1971

Posted in HoldingsTagged Black History Month, Hogan's Alley, photographs

Post navigation

The Robert Burns Memorial in Stanley Park
Wintertime Frolicking

Related Post

  • House History Real Property Appraisal Cards
  • Men reading in Chinatown streets, 1920s. Reference code: AM640-S1-F4-: CVA 260-2170 Stereoscopic Photographs: Viewing Life in 3D
  • Records Roundup III
  • New in the public domain 2022
  • Season’s Greetings!
  • Yucho Chow Community Archive collection now at the Archives!

2 thoughts on “Hogan’s Alley Before the Demolition”

  1. Andy Laycock says:
    February 20, 2014 at 23:46

    This an extremely useful map. Thanks for creating it.

  2. Daniel says:
    February 18, 2017 at 03:42

    This really is a useful and great article. You can’t go wrong with such an interactive map!

    Thank you!

    By the way, I sure hope they purchased the best properties they could get for a fair price. I mean considering that those would be demolished.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Theme Design & Developed By OpenSumo
  • Home
  • About The Blog
  • About The Bloggers
  • Comment Policy
  • Links
  • RSS