Preserving Victoria

Dennis Rogers

Today's hot topic is SSMUH and infill housing, and in 2002 it was the same as developers looked to add density to historic Rockland. The Pemberton mansion, a McClure masterpiece from the early 1900s, stood at a crossroads - demolition for five new lots or something new to add density while preserving the past.

The six-unit rooming house was thoughtfully decommissioned, with the original mansion initially converted to a duplex (later restored to a single-family residence). The innovation came in how they balanced density with heritage: four townhomes—two freestanding—were artfully positioned behind the mansion.

It was a delicate dance between old and new and marked the first time townhouses had entered Rockland's mansion district in such a configuration. The 906 Pemberton development created a heritage-sensitive density that honoured Victoria's architectural legacy while acknowledging modern housing needs.

The project is a lesson: our most innovative solutions often emerge when we refuse to choose between preservation and progress, instead finding the harmonious third path.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​