Devon Properties and Avison Young Victoria are pleased to offer for sale the Lim Dat Building — a rare investment opportunity prominently located in Victoria’s historic Old Town. With its unique block-long frontage along Government Street, the building benefits from exceptional visibility, strong foot traffic, and a favourable mix of commercial and residential tenancies. Recognized as a designated Heritage and National Historic Site, Lim Dat is the longest-standing building in Victoria’s Chinatown. Originally constructed in 1909, the property has been extensively revitalized through nearly $1.8 million in capital improvements, thoughtfully blending original character with modern functionality. Lim Dat offers investors the rare opportunity to acquire a landmark asset in one of Victoria’s most dynamic locations.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
SUMMARY
Exterior Brick Repointing (2023 / 2016)
Commercial retrofit to 2 residential units (2022)
Exterior repainting (2022)
New Residential Intercom (2020)
Complete Elevator Upgrade (2019)
Seismically Upgraded (2016)
Extensive Building Renovations (2016 - 2025)
Storage Room
Residential Lobby
Residential Corridors
Commercial Units
BUILDING HISTORY The Lim Dat Building is recognized as the longest-standing building in Victoria’s Chinatown — the oldest surviving Chinatown in Canada — and proudly designated as both a Heritage and National Historic Site. Originally constructed in 1909 by local entrepreneur Lim Dat and his son Lim Bang, the building was designed by the esteemed architecture firm Hooper & Watkins in the Edwardian Commercial style. Its block-long frontage, arched windows, and recessed balconies remain iconic elements of the streetscape today. Originally home to twelve storefronts and dormitory-style accommodations above, the building provided essential space for Chinese-Canadian businesses and community life during the early 20th century. The Lim family, played a foundational role in shaping Victoria’s Chinatown. Lim Bang oversaw brick manufacturing, greenhouse operations, and real estate investments — including construction of the Lim Dat Building using brick from the family’s own Sidney Brick & Tile Company. After decades of use, the property underwent periods of decline before being partially restored in the 1970s and later comprehensively renovated in the early 1990s. In 2015, the current ownership embarked on an extensive revitalization, restoring the heritage façade, upgrading building systems. Today, the Lim Dat Building stands as a fully modernized, income-producing asset — a rare opportunity to own a piece of Victoria’s living history.