Featuring breathtaking views and an incredible location, this 1.2 acre Vancouver property is sitting at an asking price of $25.8 million. This shouldn’t be surprising, since a nearby mansion is currently listed for a cool $50 million. So really, this is a steal of a deal! Why? Well… it’s been abandoned for over fifteen years, and the last person to set foot in the building was in 1997. The structure is questionable at best, and it’s been the canvas for many aspiring urban graffiti artists (to put it nicely).
This rock amongst diamonds is located at 4749 Belmont Avenue in Vancouver’s luxurious Point Grey neighbourhood. The house has four bedrooms, and one and a half bathrooms – but check the plumbing before you flush!
Photo Courtesy of Business News Network
But what this property does have going for it, is its location. You get an unobstructed view of the ocean, the mountains, and the city. The home itself may be a tear-down, but a picture is worth a thousand words, and this view is worth the $25.8 million price tag.
Photo Courtesy of The National Post
Photo Courtesy of The National Post
Originally built in 1937 by architect Charles Van Norman for Canadian Army officer Bertram Hoffmeister, the residence, featuring simple wood paneling, might be considered almost basic by today’s standards.
When Major-General Hoffmeister was overseas at war, his salary was sufficient to support his family, but not to pay his mortgage; he had no choice but to rent his home.
His first tenant was Group of Seven painter, Lawren Harris, who lived there until 1943. When World War II ended, Major-General Hoffmeister returned to Canada and sold the house in 1956.
Photo Courtesy of The National Post
The last person to live in this house was Victor Li, son of the notable Li Ka-shing, a successful Hong Kong businessman, investor, and philanthropist – and one of the world’s richest men. Li only occupied this residence for five years, when the house was at its prime. He later sold it to its current owner, but no one has lived in this house since 1997. It has since withered to its current folorn state.
It is unknown as to why the home was abandoned, but it seems as though the current owner never had any intention of living in the dwelling in the eighteen years since it was bought. As it stands, the house has not been sold yet.
Photo Courtesy of The National Post
I love abandoned buildings, especially when they’re revived and repurposed, but this house has been abandoned for so long that the original bones might not be stable anymore. It’s unfortunate that the current owners did not take care of their property. As old as it is, it could have been turned into something wonderful – a mix of old and new.
Luckily the beautiful landscape will never grow old, which includes views of the beach, city, and mountains of Vancouver – and that’s priceless!
Visit the National Post and the Huffington Post to learn more details about this property.
And to view the interior of the house, watch this news story from CTV News Vancouver.
Researched and Written by Stephanie Tsapoitis, Undergraduate of Interior Design at Sheridan College
