With only about 1,000 residents, Burkeville is Richmond’s smallest neighbourhood and, arguably, one of the most unique.
So, what’s all the talk about in Burkeville these days?
Arguably, the loudest chit-chat going on in the neighbourhood is the City of Richmond’s proposal to introduce a coach house bylaw to the area.
Burkeville is just one of two neighbourhoods in Richmond (Shellmont being the other) designed with back lanes that can accommodate the mini houses that theoretically provide affordable housing for renters.
Close to three years ago, the issue came to the forefront but soon disappeared and the city only approved a few coach houses on a case-by-case basis.
The city will be holding a public consultation process this spring to determine the residents’ thoughts on such a bylaw.
Graham MacFarlane, a resident there for the last 23 years, is applying to the city to build a coach house for himself.
He lives in a split-level home but says he’s the unfortunate victim of a coach house gone wrong, behind his house in the back lane.
There, a full two-storey structure has been built, which is larger than some actual homes in the neighbourhood (many of them World War II-era heritage homes).
“People aren’t happy,” he said, listing off the names of every neighbour around him, as most people in Burkeville can do.
“Even (the neighbour who built it) said, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t know it was going to be so big,’” chuckled MacFarlane.
So, the city must determine if residents want coach houses, and, if so, they must then look at issues such as impacts to traffic and drainage as well as the dimension, configuration and architectural designs of such structures.
MacFarlane said, with or without the policy, Burkeville has a number of back lane garages that appear to have been turned into living accommodations.
He believes a bylaw would be practical in setting guidelines.
MacFarlane said his coach house will be one storey with a pitched roof, not a two storey house that ruins people’s privacy.
So, are people worried the neighbourhood is changing too much?
Yes and no, MacFarlane contends.
“It’s changing slowly enough that (new residents) are assimilated. The community is the Borg. But there are changes. When you have suites you have a more transient population that is not as vested in the neighbourhood,” he said.
Meanwhile, the neighbourhood is surely set to receive a few more lost “visitors” as the luxury outlet mall on Templeton Street gets set to open this summer.
Also, as it’s spring, you’ll know having visited the neighbourhood that there are several well-kept gardens.
At MacFarlane’s corner, someone has even bagged some extra plants and put up a sign to give them away for free.
It’s clear the friendly Burkevillian way continues as the neighbourhood gets set for some big changes and surely a few more headlines down the road (or lane).
What’s going on in your neighbourhood?
Neighbourhood Watch is a new regular feature in which reporter Graeme Wood takes to the streets, paths and back alleys, of different communities to talk to folks about what’s happening close to home. Email Graeme at [email protected].
