Atagi Building

General Information

Type of Resource: Building
Common Name: Redden Net Company
Address: 3700 Moncton Street
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): Steveston
Construction Date: 1911
Current Owner: Private
Designated: No

Statement of Significance

Description of Site

The Atagi building is part of a row of commercial buildings along Moncton Street in downtown Steveston. All of the buildings are of a similar age and scale, and present a continuous façade of small retail shops flush to the sidewalk. The building occupies a prominent corner location.

Statement of Values

The heritage value of the Atagi building is in its historic role as part of an almost-continuous façade of simple, wood frame, false front style commercial buildings along Moncton Street. The building is of a similar scale to the majority of the buildings, oriented and built flush to the street, emphasizing the flow of pedestrian traffic which would have occurred early in the century along Steveston’s main street. The Atagi building is significant as part of the early pattern of commercial development which characterized Steveston in the early part of the twentieth century as the area boomed in population and economic wealth from farming and fishing. This early and continuing historic pattern is rare in the city of Richmond. The Atagi building has aesthetic value as a very good example of a false-fronted commercial structure in a prominent corner location. It managed to survive the 1918 Steveston fire, which makes it one of the earliest commercial buildings on Moncton Street

Character Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include: · The building’s front gable roof and the distinctive stepped parapet false front, and its typical rectangular building from behind · The height, scale, colour and massing of the building typical of the streetscape · Its orientation and relationship to Moncton Street · Its presence as part of the historical development form of the street which creates a diverse, articulated edge and a sense of enclosure, and its contribution to the liveliness and diversity of the area

History

The Redden Net Company building is one of the earliest survivors on Moncton Street. It was originally built by T. Atagi; documentation indicates the owner as A.T. McCallan in 1912. This building was fortunate enough to have survived the 1918 Steveston fire. In 1947 it was used as a theatre, but it is not documented whether it was used as a live theatre or to screen films.

Architectural Significance

Architectural Style

Commercial Building or Boomtown

Building Type

Commercial - Retail

Design Features

The building is rectangular in plan with a front gable roof, a false front, and a shed roofed bay on the east side. The foundation is a concrete foundation footing of a later (undocumented) date; there is evidence of past foundation problems. The building is clad in what appears to be the original horizontal drop-siding on the front façade, but the sides and back is sided in vinyl. The roof cover is galvanized sheet metal and there is a large gable roof addition to the rear, with triangular brackets in the gable ends. All of the windows in the front façade have been replaced and are now large plate glass with wooden trim. The side windows are wooden sash. The building is painted blue with white trim, and has had a large blue awning installed across the false front.

Construction Method

Wood frame construction.

Landscape Significance

No information available.

Integrity

Alterations:There have been several alterations to the building, including the replacement of the front windows, the application of vinyl siding and the addition of the rather large canopy over the front façade which completely hides the characteristic false front. The alterations to the storefront are considered recognizable and therefore reversible.
Original Location: Yes
Lost: No

Condition

The building is in fair condition, with some evidence of settling in the addition at the rear.

Documentation

Evaluated By: Denise Cook BLA, PBD (Public History)
Evaluation Date: Sunday, September 24, 2000

Inventory Sheets by Foundation Group Designs, January 1990 “Heritage Inventory Phase II” by Foundation Group Designs May 1989