Maple Ridge permanently protects 114-year-old Carter residence with heritage designation

A 114-year-old bungalow overlooking the Fraser River has been granted permanent heritage protection with unanimous approval by Maple Ridge council. 

On July 14, council adopted the heritage designation bylaw and accompanying tax exemption bylaw for the historic Carter residence, located at 21694 River Rd., ensuring the property will be legally protected from demolition and certain alterations while providing the owners with a 10-year exemption from the municipal property taxes.

Built in 1912 for Harry L.W. Carter and his wife, Leila Hancox, the one-and-a-half-storey home is considered one of Maple Ridge’s best-preserved examples of Craftsman architecture and reflects the community’s early suburban development along River Road.

According to a statement of significance prepared for the city, the residence was constructed by local carpenter James Riddle after the Carters purchased a 1.61-acre property west of Port Haney. Harry Carter, a plasterer and the son of early Maple Ridge mason and brickmaker Nelson Carter, was later killed in action during the First World War near Lens, France and is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial. His wife and four children remained in the home until the late 1920s before selling it to the Leggatt family, who farmed the property for more than 20 years.

The heritage report says the home’s significance extends beyond its history.

The bungalow retains a high degree of architectural integrity, including its original cedar shingle siding, wood-frame windows, brick chimney and clinker brick fireplace, as well as hallmark Craftsman features such as its side-gabled roof, full-width front verandah and symmetrical design.

The property is also recognized for the extensive restoration work completed after Susan and the late Michael Cizik purchased the home in 2004. Over several years, they removed asphalt siding that had covered the original cedar shingles, restored interior finishes, reconstructed the front verandah staircase and returned the house to its historic colour scheme. Their work earned a municipal Heritage Award in 2007.

City staff said the designation supports Maple Ridge’s 2023 Heritage Plan, which encourages the conservation of significant heritage structures and the continued expansion of the city’s Heritage Register. 

While the Carter Residence was already listed on the city’s heritage inventory, that listing carried no legal protection. The newly adopted designation permanently protects the property under the Local Government Act.

Staff noted that a heritage designation does not prevent future renovations but instead requires a heritage alteration permit for changes that could affect the property’s heritage value. Proposed alterations will be assessed using Parks Canada’s conservation guidelines to ensure changes are compatible with the home’s historic character.

The accompanying tax exemption bylaw provides a 10-year exemption from municipal property taxes to help offset the costs of maintaining the protected heritage asset. If a future owner fails to meet the bylaw’s conditions or the property is approved for demolition, the city can require repayment of the tax exemptions, plus interest.