Series S4 - Real Estate Files

Series consists of records detailing the property, real estate and mortgage loans held by Mercantile Mortgage Company and Estates Investment Limited. These include building files for each of the significant Vancouver and New Westminster properties which include deeds, photographs, architectural plans and sketches, correspondence with building trades companies in the respective cities, permits for construction in each building and some lease and tenant information. Many of these files date to the late 19th Century or first decade of the 20th century. In addition, a number of building files detail modern upgrades to the buildings including elevator and sprinkler system installation and general upgrades from the 1950s through the 1970s. Some files contain lease and tenant information as well as operating statements and general property management information. Tax assessments and property valuations from the 1970s and 1980s are related to sale agreements for each of the properties. A number of dockets dating from 1896 to 1921 contain mortgages, agreements of sale, property deeds, real unit property deeds and transfers, and other indentures and contracts related to real estate investments and mortgage loans. Many files include photographs and architectural plans.
Eleven files consist of polaroid photographs only which represent a survey of commercial properties in New Westminster and Downtown Vancouver taken in 1979 and 1980 in anticipation of the sale of Mercantile Mortgage Company Limited property throughout the 1980s. In addition, 2 files of colour slides dating from the 1950s and 1960s exists showing buildings and street scenes in Gastown. One file consists of a slide show, the Townsite Story, compiled by M. Gerald Thomson in ca. 1968 detailing coordinated efforts at development and rejuvination in the Gastown area in the 1960s and presented to various business and investor groups in Vancouver in reaction to the Project 200 urban planning initiatives.