Shaughnessy, Vancouver’s Upper Crust Neighbourhood
The Grandeur of Shaughnessy
The Shaughnessy neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is one of grand heritage homes. Its borders are 16th and 41st avenues on the north and south and Oak and Arbutus streets on the east and west. Shaughnessy is not a good fit for the Vancouver grid pattern of streets and avenues; instead, many roads loop and meander with the hilly terrain of the highest area in the city aside from nearby Queen Elizabeth Park. The neighbourhood’s estimated population is 9,000. Its name commemorates Thomas Shaughnessy, the American chief executive of the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1899 to 1918 when the king raised him to the British peerage as a first baron in 1916.
Shaughnessy has sprawling homes with enormous gardens. In September 2010 the average house sale price was $2,955,059. Average neighbourhood annual household income is $136K+, considerably higher than the Metro Vancouver average. In Shaughnessy, 51.5 percent of neighbourhood housing dates from before or during the Second World War II compared to 20.8 percent city-wide. The objective of the December 1998 First Shaughnessy Official Development Plan of the City of Vancouver is “to protect and preserve Shaughnessy’s unique pre–1940 character.” Two neighbourhood streets, Beverly Crescent and Cedar Crescent, have the highest average home values nationwide.
The Three Shaughnessys
The Canadian Pacific Railway developed the land for the First Shaughnessy neighbourhood in the early 1900s. The federal government in Ottawa granted the railroad, then the largest Canadian real estate developer, Old Shaughnessy north of King Edward Avenue as an inducement to extend its service to the West Coast. “First Shaughnessy” between 16th and 25th avenues and Oak Street and East Boulevard was the first such Canadian Pacific-developed subdivision. The area subsequently extended south of King Edward as far as 41st Avenue. The success and appeal of First Shaughnessy were so great that in the late ’20s and early ’30s development of adjacent land created the Second and then the Third Shaughnessy, where lots and houses are mostly smaller and more modest but still impressive by any measure.
Neighbourhood Attractions
A main Shaughnessy attraction is the VanDusen Botanical Garden, from 1911 to 1960 home of the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club as lessor and tenant of the Canadian Pacific Railway until the club moved to a new location. The railroad proposed a subdivision, which many influential citizens opposed, so in 1966 the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association formed to assist the Vancouver Park Board in acquiring and redeveloping the property. Acquisition and redevelopment funds came from the City of Vancouver, the British Columbia Government, the Vancouver Foundation, largest of Canada’s community foundations, and industrialist/philanthropist W J VanDusen, the garden’s namesake. VanDusen Botanical Garden opened in August 1975.
The Heritage Vancouver Society sponsors weekend morning two-hour walking tours of Shaughnessy architectural wonders and landscaping delights. The Glen Brae Mansion on Matthews Avenue, once after its career as a private home the headquarters building of the Canadian Ku Klux Klan and now the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, features twin, domed towers framing its front entrance. Hycroft Manor on McRae Avenue between Marpole Avenue and The Crescent around Shaughnessy Park, perhaps Vancouver’s most fashionable address, has 30 rooms on five acres housing the University Women’s Club of Vancouver since 1962. Hycroft Manor is open to the public for the club’s annual fundraiser, Christmas at Hycroft, and for many other events throughout the year.
Information Links:
http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/shaughnessy.aspx http://former.vancouver.ca/parks/cc/douglas/website/index.html
http://vancouver.ca/docs/planning/arbutus-ridge-kerrisdale-shaughnessy-arks-community-vision-full-report.pdf
New Shaughnessy Live MLS Listings
Shaughnessy, Vancouver's Upper Crust Neighbourhood
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1080 WOLFE Avenue in Vancouver: Shaughnessy House for sale in "SHAUGHNESSY" (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2780062
1080 WOLFE Avenue Vancouver V6H 1V8 
$9,580,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2780062
- Bedrooms:
- 5
- Bathrooms:
- 5
- Floor Area:
- 5,910 sq. ft.
1080 Wolfe Ave - First Shaughnessy – Fabulous redevelopment opportunity in First Shaughnessy. City approved plans to redevelop the existing house with an addition, UG parking for 7 vehicles, a pool & cabana for a total of almost 15,000 sqft. The existing 6000 sqft Heritage B Sam Maclure Tudor Mansion is an exceptional example of Vancouver history & sits on over 27,000 sqft on the high side at the end of Wolfe with city and mountain views. A very private gated property with beautifully landscaped gardens. Existing home is filled with heritage features such as oak floors, wainscoting, coffered ceiling & leaded glass windows. Huge principal rooms and 4 generous sized bedrooms. School Catchment: Shaughnessy Elementary & Eric Hamber Secondary. More detailsListed by RE/MAX Westcoast
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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1257 W 32ND Avenue in Vancouver: Shaughnessy House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2823335
1257 W 32ND Avenue Vancouver V6H 2J1
$8,980,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2823335
- Bedrooms:
- 5
- Bathrooms:
- 8
- Floor Area:
- 6,911 sq. ft.
Remarkable custom built 4 level luxurious home in SHAUGHNESSY designed by Loy Leyland. Over 6,900 SF luxury mansion on big lot almost 10,000 SF. It features 5 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, elegant living and dining area, granite & marble countertops, maple cabinets & top of the line appliances in kitchen, wok kitchen, 3 gas fireplaces, maple hardwood flooring throughout on main and upstairs. Air-conditioning, heat-recovery ventilation, sauna, steam, recreation room, game room, extraordinary Luxury indoor saltwater swimming pool, hot tub & spa, home theatre. 4-car garage. Beautiful landscaping backyard. Eric Hamber High School & close to Little Flower Private School, York House Private School, and Shaughnessy Elementary catchment. Price to sell, Motivated seller. do not miss it. More detailsListed by Magsen Realty Inc. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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1192 W 38TH Avenue in Vancouver: Shaughnessy House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2854892
1192 W 38TH Avenue Vancouver V6M 1P9
$8,900,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2854892
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 8
- Floor Area:
- 5,653 sq. ft.
Top-quality & Craftsman custom built newer home in most prestige shaughnessy area. 8125 sqft big corner lot with 5,538 sqft living space. Main level features gourmet kitchen with all Miele appliances, extra large fridge, wok kitchen with Wolf gas range, custom designed hardwood cabinets. Upper level features 4 bedrooms all with ensuite bathroom. Basement with 2 more bedroom all with ensuite, plus sauna room, media room, vine room & big entertainment area. Big outdoor patio, 4 car garage, south facing back yard. A/C, radiant heat, HRV, built-in vacuum, built-in speakers, security cameras. More detailsListed by Royal Pacific Realty Corp. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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3651 OSLER Street in Vancouver: Shaughnessy House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2658245
3651 OSLER Street Vancouver V6H 2W5
$8,880,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2658245
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 4
- Floor Area:
- 4,220 sq. ft.
Prime property on prestigious Osler St. between Matthews and Balfour in the heart of First Shaughnessy District. Beautiful street appeal and surrounded by newer mansions. 82 x 241 = 19766 sf level lot. Existing 4200sf Georgian home can be lifted and extended to an approx. 12000sf dream estate home under the First Shaughnessy retention program. Fantastic location to raise family, close to York House, LFA, short drive to St. George's, UBC, DT and YVR. Tenanted, please do not walk onto the yard w/o notice. House is sold land value only, on an "as-is, where-is" basis. More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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1536 W 36TH Avenue in Vancouver: Shaughnessy House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2829860
1536 W 36TH Avenue Vancouver V6M 1J8
$8,800,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2829860
- Bedrooms:
- 10
- Bathrooms:
- 8
- Floor Area:
- 8,532 sq. ft.
DREAM HOME ALERT – Located in the highly coveted area of Shaughnessy, this rarely available home sits on a massive 15,500 sq ft lot of prime Vancouver real estate. Boasting a functional and elegant layout, with plenty of sunlight, a large garden, and plenty of outdoor space in the front and the back, this home is just teeming with potential, as the Seller has gotten a full renovation permit to extend the current floor area to 10,077 sq ft, complete with Architectural drawings which can be reviewed via the link in realtor remarks. At the moment the home, requires a full renovation, and is keen to find someone open to the challenge. An ideal project for a Master Contractor, Dream Home Seekers, or as an investment. Please call now to find out more information. More detailsListed by Homeland Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
