1794 Frances Street

ChangingCity

February 29

The Vancouver Archives title for this image is 'The Saint Patrick's Apartments'. The building was developed by Stefarro Patrissi in 1913. The title is a variation on the name that appeared in the street directory - the S Patris Apartments. He built them himself, with F Defala designing the building. His brother, Vito, who always used the full family name of Patrissi, had built a house on part of the same 2 lots in 1912, at 1786, which he continued to live in until his death in 1937. Vito arrived in Vancouver from Italy in 1897, aged 30 (or maybe 32, if later records are accurate). On his death he was already a widower, and had four daughters.

Stefarro was older than his brother - aged 77 when he died in August 1935, (when he was called Stefoni Patris in the obituary). His home was near here at 1652 Frances, which became another apartment building, also described in 1930, when it was for sale, as the S Patris Apartment House. The press correctly named him as Stefarro Patrissi when they reported that his estate was worth $8,410, which was left to his wife, and daughter, Angela. His widow, Rosesina died at the end of the same year, also aged 77, and the press coverage said the couple had arrived in Vancouver in 1889. In 1916 the street directory showed the brothers were listed as Victor and Stephen Patrissi.

In 1951 Larry Kuske was living here, in suite 5. One January evening he heard a crash, and looked out of his window to see shopkeeper Jimmy Hashimoto jumping through the broken front window of his store, Jimmy's Grocery, across the street on Salsbury. Two men had entered the store at 6.30 pm and stolen $70 from the till. Jimmy and his daughter Mary, and a woman customer had fought with the men, and Mary had locked the door, so the 20-year old 'hoodlums' smashed the glass in both the front door and the window to escape. Despite Jimmy chasing them, they got away.

In 1958 a 3-room self contained suite (for Adults) was $65. Our image shows the building in 1978. In 1987 one and two bed apartments were available at $325, 'and up'. In 2003 this apartment building was for sale, with still the original count of eight units, and the gross rent was $43,000. It was for sale for $468,000, but described as 'fixer-upper, lots of work needed'. As the contemporary image shows, somebody has carried out the necessary work. In 2021 it was for sale for $3,250,000, and a 450 sq ft studio rents for $1,875 a month.

Image source: City of Vancouver Archives CVA 786-68.03

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