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Letter: A new restaurant would be an ideal replacement for the old Navvy Jack House

West Vancouver would be better served by a successful commercial enterprise than a neglected historical structure
North Shore News
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West Vancouver's Navvy Jack House was once the home of Navvy Jack Thomas and his wife Slawia (Magdeleine), the granddaughter of Squamish Nation Chief Kiepilano. It's the oldest surviving building on the North Shore. photo West Vancouver Historical Society

Dear Editor,

I find it ironic that the Navvy Jack House has recently become such a valued piece of our history when prior to it becoming vacant I suspect 90+% of West Vancouver residents had no idea of its history.

I think we’d be better served demolishing the structure (which is in terrible neglected condition) and consider a commercial income producing use such as a waterfront restaurant with some form of acknowledgment of the former Navvy Jack House.

Given the location of this site, a venue such as the successful Boat Shed restaurant at Ambleside Beach would be ideal.

Don Weber
West Vancouver