A commentary by a former ­member of Victoria city council and a community activist.

Travel along Craigflower Road, passing Banfield Park, glimpsing the Gorge, beneath a canopy of magnificent pink horse chestnut trees.

Bordering the water side of Craigflower, stone walls, remnants of what once was the Burleith estate, front the homes that were built after the estate was subdivided in 1909.

On the other side, a character residential/commercial building at 414-424 Craigflower Rd. houses such beloved neighbourhood institutions as Fry’s Bakery and The Spiral Cafe.

Until recently this portion of Craigflower was also enhanced by a character home, originally constructed as the carriage house for Burleith, with a stone wall, replete with impressive gate posts and an exquisite, and elaborate, metal gate.

All of this has been demolished. A video, posted online, shows a bulldozer at work, crushing the house.

The wall is gone. The gate posts are gone. The beautiful gate is gone.........

© Times Colonist