So much for the ’boutique hotel’.
The owners of the historic Steveston Hotel—formerly the Sockeye Hotel and home to the Buck and Ear Pub—are asking the city to strip the north-side, 1940s-era addition of its heritage status and demolish it. They intend to replace it with affordable rental apartments.
Originally built in 1897, the main structure is part of the Steveston Heritage Conservation Area. Its newer wing housed the Buck & Ear Pub, which closed this past May after 77 years. In a letter to city staff, owner Demetre Lazos explained the plan to convert the space into “affordable housing” units.
City staff, however, recommend retaining the heritage status and exploring redevelopment through a heritage-led planning process. They emphasize the importance of preserving the building’s historic fabric and suggest any changes be carefully designed to respect its character.
The Steveston Historical Society has also weighed in strongly. They urge that its role as a communal gathering place be considered in future plans.
Earlier proposals aimed to turn the pub space into five boutique hotel rooms, but with the Buck & Ear now shuttered, the focus has shifted to more permanent residential rentals.
The city’s planning department will present this matter to council at an upcoming meeting. The decision will determine whether the heritage designation stays in place and whether the hotel’s iconic extension is protected
Reporter