An historic and prominent building in East Ladner will finally have added heritage protection.
Council at its Oct. 21 meeting gave preliminary approval for the East Delta Hall to have heritage designation.
The building on Highway 10 is already in Delta’s Rural Heritage Inventory, which identifies, but does not protect, properties having heritage value and character.
Heritage designation is a legal protection tool for properties of particular value to a community, done through a bylaw that must be adopted by council.
The bylaw sets out the property’s significance and any on-going requirements that are needed to maintain the property to a specified standard.
In 1931, the McKee family donated one hectare (2.5 acres) of farmland, created by the McKee Athletic Association and built the East Delta Hall as a community resource for social and athletic events.
Earlier this year, an agreement between the City of Delta and the association was reached to transfer ownership of the hall and its surrounding property to the city for $1.
Part of the deal includes the city entering into a multi-year agreement with Mr. Mom’s World Catering and Events, the current tenant on site providing catering, events and hall rental services.
Staff are also working with the association to develop commemorative signage to acknowledge the history of East Delta Hall and the contributions from individuals and families that constructed and operated the hall for more than 90 years.
Once a heritage designation bylaw is adopted after a public hearing, local governments are required to provide notification to the BC Minister responsible for the Heritage Conservation Act within 30 days so that the new sites can be added to the BC Register of Historic Places.
