Let’s head back to 1973 to check out a new look for Ladner Village.
In February of that year, the first part of a “face lifting” for the business area was completed, a three-storey section on 48th Avenue undertaken by Doug Oliver, Grant Williamson and Bev Gallant.
The construction gave Bev’s Kitchen new premises just up the street where she had been located for five years, added 600- square feet to Williamson’s Hardware and a new front and interior for Oliver’s Plumbing and Heating.
The “Oliver Block” was between the post office and Perry’s Department Store.
“It’s the kind of thing Ladner has needed for years now to draw people to the downtown section and as the forerunner of the proposed urban renewal scheme should be a boon to business in the community,” a full-page ad stated.
Two years earlier, Oliver purchased the vacant property next to where Bev’s Kitchen had been located with a view to developing it.
The construction provided a new-look street frontage for the three businesses.
“There’s no question Oliver’s development was done with business in mind. But he’s to be applauded for giving the business community at large a spur that was sorely needed.”
Across the street, the OK Tire store also went through a refurbishing.
Doug Oliver’s efforts for a new look on 48th Avenue was well received in 1973
