706-718 Yates Street

718 Yates Street. Designed in 1913 by architect George C. Mesher as the Metropolis Bulding.

Here is a map showing the location of 706-718 Yates Street:

Here is a Google Street View image of 706-718 Yates Street:

Additional Information About 706-718 Yates Street

• Assessed Value (July 2018): $23,125,000; Land $4,826,000 Buildings $18.200,000
• Assessed Value (July 2017): $20,761,000; Land $4,600,000 Buildings $16.161,000
• Assessed Value (July 2016): $19,338,000; Land $4,374,000 Buildings $14.964,000
• Assessed Value (July 2015): $18,153,000; Land $3,771,000 Buildings $14,382,000

A Brief History of 706- 718 Yates Street

Here are some links to historic photos of 706-718 Yates Street:

• BC Archives photo I-02182 – ScotiaBank, 702 Yates Street, also showing 1313 Douglas Street and the Metropolis Hotel at 718 Yates Street, circa 1940. Photographer: Duncan Macphail
• BC Archives photo A-08535 – Poodle Dog Cafe in the Metropolis Hotel, circa 1940. Photographer: Duncan Macphail
• BC Archives photo I-01491 – Metropolis Hotel, 1947. Photographer: Duncan Macphail
• BC Archives photo I-26513 – Birks Jewellers on ground floor of Metropolis Hotel, also showing 702 Yates Street, 1957
• City of Victoria Archives photo M05574 – 1960
• City of Victoria Archives photo M01473 – 1961
• BC Archives photo I-26510 – ScotiaBank, 702 Yates Street and 706-718 Yates Street as the Hotel Yates, 1975

This building was originally designed in 1912 by architect George Charles Mesher for the Metropolis Building Company.

It was apparently intended as an office building. The original building permit, issued by the City of Victoria in May 1912, describes a “new brick, steel and concrete building” “6 storey, 210 rooms”, “purpose: stores and offices.”

It makes sense that the Metropolis Building Co. would retain George C. Mesher to design an office building in 1912. Between 1909 and 1912  George C. Mesher had designed two major office buildings in downtown Victoria: the Sayward Building and the Pemberton Building (now the Yarrow Building).

The building was built in 1912-1913 but apparently the Metropolis Building Company’s plans changed during construction. Instead of opening as a new office building, this building was opened in 1913 as the Metropolis Hotel.

It operated as a hotel, under various names, with retail space on the main floor, until the 1980’s, when it was converted to provincial government offices with stores on the main floor.

Here are some other Victoria buildings designed by George C. Mesher: