Mountain View Heritage Conservation Area

thinkmodus
Jul 16
2 min read

Honouring Mountain View’s past and shaping its future through Chilliwack’s first Heritage Conservation Area.

THE CHALLENGE

Located within the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Stó:lō Coast Salish peoples, the Mountain View neighbourhood is one of Chilliwack’s oldest urban residential areas. Characterized by a rich variety of early- and mid-20th-century architecture, a strong connection to the city’s early working-class residents, and the landmark St. Thomas Anglican Church at the gateway of Gore and First Avenues, the area holds significant heritage value.

Recognizing this, the City of Chilliwack identified the creation of a Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) for Mountain View as a key action in its Heritage Strategic Action Plan. As the City’s first HCA, the project needed to balance clarity, usability, and policy strength while bringing the community along in a respectful and transparent process.

THE RESPONSE

In support of Luxton & Associates, MODUS led the development of communications, engagement, and design guidelines for the Mountain View HCA process. Drawing on its urban design expertise, MODUS conducted an in-depth analysis of the neighbourhood’s character-defining attributes and history to inform policy and design directions.

As many residents were encountering the concept of an HCA for the first time, MODUS and the City facilitated a series of workshops to first introduce the idea of an HCA, address questions, and gather local insights about heritage assets and community values. Through a follow up workshop, draft policies and guidelines were presented for feedback.

The final Mountain View HCA includes a set of ”best practices” design guidelines to ensure that future development enhances the area's heritage character. Key elements include: site planning to maintain and reinforce the eclectic and established streetscape pattern; architectural guidelines to inform compatibility with historic elements; and special considerations for the St. Thomas Anglican Church so that it retains its landmark status.

Together, these design guidelines offer a practical, flexible, and preservation-minded framework that balances the need for growth and ease of implementation with the desire to preserve Mountain View’s unique identity.