The stampede of prospectors looking to cash in on the discovery of gold in Klondike, Yukon had an immeasurable impact on cities in British Columbia, including Vancouver, which served as a major hub for transportation and supplies. Nanaimo resident Thomas Flack was one of many who hit pay dirt in the gold fields, using his rewards to commission a new building that would anchor the corner of West Hastings and Cambie Streets for decades to come.

Flack Block in 2004, prior to renovation, image via Canadian Register of Historic Places

Hastings Street benefited immensely from the gold rush, coming into its own as a vibrant commercial and retail corridor. The 1900-built Flack Block, designed by esteemed architect William Blackmore, was one of the largest buildings erected during the Klondike era. Its prominence would attract a range of tenants from physicians and dentists to brokers and agents, but perhaps most notably, it served as the original home to the Bank of Vancouver. It would also spur the development of other commercial buildings along Hastings, which up until that point, had been much more restrained in their scale and ornamentation.

The Flack Block in 2016, image retrieved from Google Street View

The textured surface and bent facade of the Romanesque Revival style building contributes towards its unwavering sense of solidity and its reflection of corporate power. But later years hadn't been so kind to the old dame. Pawn shops and a wave of sordid activity sullied the reputation of the historic property. The expressive ornamentation of the shopfronts were replaced with simple stucco, its arched entrance had been completely stripped away, and the building had fallen into severe disrepair. 

The restored Flack Block includes a fifth floor and a re-created entrance, image by Filip Conev via Creative Commons

The building found a friend in The Salient Group, a real estate developer focused on restoring historical structures as a way of revitalizing downtown. Their two-year, $20 million renovation project saved the building from demolition by neglect. Completed in 2008, the Flack Block's sandstone has been rehabilitated, and its hand-carved limestone archway has been faithfully re-created by local artisans using vintage photographs for guidance. Under the watchful eyes of Acton Ostry Architects, the building also now hosts a glass fifth floor, set back from the parapet of the original building, with a wraparound deck offering views of Victory Square Park.

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