65 Years of 1450 Chestnut — and Me ❤️

 65 Years of 1450 Chestnut — and Me ❤️

I just realized something that made me laugh…

I've lived on and off at 1450 Chestnut Street in Kitsilano since 1997. For the last few years, I kept telling people the building was 62 years old.

Then the other day I realized I'm turning 65 — and so is the building! 😂

So apparently we need to have a birthday party. 🎂

What's especially interesting is that when 1450 Chestnut was built, a high-rise like this was controversial in Kitsilano. It was a very different neighbourhood then, and this big apartment tower stood out among the lower buildings.

And now look at our neighbour Sen̓áḵw.

Talk about how Vancouver has changed.

I've lived through so many changes here: repiping, new carpets, new elevators, the pool being repaired more than once, and the roof being redone twice.

And then there was the jackhammering of the outside stucco off. 😬🤪

There have been fires, changing neighbours, countless new faces and, sadly, people who have passed away here.

And I've watched the rents change from $630 in 1997, to $825 in 2004, to $925 in 2007. Today, apartments here can be around $2,000 or more.

But this isn't just my story.

There are 215 suites in this building, meaning hundreds of people have called this place home over the years. Some may have lived here for a few months, others for decades.

So I'm thinking…

What if we collect the stories?

I'm going to do some research into the history of 1450 Chestnut — when it was built, who designed it, what Kitsilano was like back then, why the building was controversial, old photographs, renovations and the changes this building has gone through.

But I'd love to hear from the people who actually lived here.

Did you live at 1450 Chestnut? Do you still live here? Did your parents or grandparents?

Tell me your stories.
Tell me what you remember.
And if you have old photographs, I'd love to see them.

Maybe we'll create a little history of our big green building together.

1450 Chestnut & Me: 65 Years Young. ❤️

And if I'm in Mexico when the birthday rolls around… somebody else will have to bring the cake. 😂🇲🇽