Revisionist History

This building, in its first stages of demolition, is on the corner of 2^nd and Quebec—less than half a block from my shop—I actually worked on a movie in 1989 that used this building called “The Experts” with a pre-Pulp Fiction John Travolta (had something to do with the KGB and crazy hi jinx)—it’s sad to see it go even though it’s been abandoned for years and its infrastructure was slowly crumbling—Vancouver has so few unique and identifying manmade landmarks—it’s in a state of perpetual renewal that eliminates any history it may still possess—being a relatively young city it hasn’t established an identity and struggles with the fact that it will never be as striking or imposing as the mountains that surround it—I’m not opposed to urban growth and I don’t think it needs to be seen as gentrification but at the same time I’d like to think I have some say in the course of its progression—I get sad when something I identify with in a neighborhood is destroyed and replaced by just more of the same shiny structures that house the overpriced condos that have become so synonymous with this city--

I know that when the lease is up on the shop space in a couple of years there is a good chance it will join the many other buildings in the neighborhood in being forgotten beneath another generic tower of steel and glass—what I’m getting at is how grateful I am right now to have access to this space—just what I need and only 7 blocks from my house—these situations are so rare and I’m incredibly lucky (and I'm just really trying to love this city I live in)