Alexander Residence

The Alexander Residence is a four-storey hotel that was constructed in 1911-1912, at the height of Vancouver’s pre-World War I building boom.

The building was designed by William Frederick Gardiner and constructed by Adkison and Dill. The recessed storefront and decorative metal railings is reminiscent of English commercial architecture, and speaks to Gardiner’s English origins and training. The asymmetrical entry off Alexander is typical of small hotels of this type.

This hotel was used for residential accommodation above and commercial shops on the ground floor. The building demonstrates a pattern of use that was common in this part of Gastown, where both retail and residential space were geared to serving the itinerant population of male resource workers, especially in winter wen the logging camps were shut down. The building also housed men from Asia, most likely Japanese.

In 1973, the building was converted to non-market housing and community services. “The Dugout”, operated by the First United Church, has been here since about 1979-1980. The building was renovated in 1992-1993.

Source

Canada's Historic Places

More information

http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=2811&pid=0