A proposal has been submitted to the City of Delta to change an historic Ladner house.
The proposed Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the Baker House in the 4900-block of 48 Avenue would allow office use or future conversion into four residential units and, among other things, a three-storey addition for the proposed office and existing ground floor residential unit including the installation of an elevator and enclosed stairs.
The plan would see a portion of the original side porch removed and an alteration of the existing stairs.
The structure, which had been used as a boutique hotel, would be added to Delta’s Heritage Register.
George Thomas Baker (1874-1928) was a prominent businessman in Ladner, opening a wheelwright and blacksmith business on Elliott Street in 1897 called Ladner Carriage Works.
The Delta Archives also notes he was well known for carriage painting.
He expanded his business into hardware and farm machinery repair and sales, acting as an agent for T.J. Trapp & Co. which sold potato farming equipment.
Baker began to cater to the new automobile business around 1912, renaming his business Ladner Carriage and Automobile Works.
Baker also served the community as police commissioner and as a member of the volunteer fire brigade.
He married Ursula Ott in 1903 and they had three sons and three daughters.
The Baker family built the home at 4883 48th Avenue, formerly Westham Street, in 1922.
The house was moved to a new location at 4919 48 Avenue in 1985.
When he died in 1928, Ursula and her children moved to Vancouver and the house was sold in 1944.
