Talk:Sam Kee Building

Dubious
This is a great and worthy article and the pics are fantastic. The declaration that this is "the narrowest commercial building in the world" is simply false. It may be "the narrowest commercial building built to code in a Western city" or "an unusually narrow commercial building" or "the narrowest commercial building to take up an entire city block" but the world is littered with "commercial buildings" by any reasonable definition that are narrower. --AStanhope 15:08, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Can someone clarify which part of this building is "only 4'11" at its ground floor base"? To me, it seems to be at least 20 feet wide. --Keeves 03:59, 24 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I don't understand the picture, either. Adding some simple graphics and/or a detailed caption to the picture might help. --User101010 04:07, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

I agree the photos are misleading. In addition, I suggest editing the article: change "...building that is only 4'11" at its ground floor base, and 6 feet at the second story..." to "...building that is only 4'11" wide at its ground floor base, and 6 feet wide at the second story..."


 * Also agreeing that the photos are all messed up, anyone in the area able to take new ones that actually show the width as it is stated? 198.6.46.11 13:40, 9 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Good idea. Let me see if I can figure out how to get an editor working on the "Vancouver project" or whatever it is called to get some new pics.  Thanks.  --AStanhope 23:08, 9 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I've added a request here: - hopefully someone will lend us a hand. Thanks, all!  --AStanhope 23:14, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, I'm in Vancouver - I believe the story is true, but the pictures don't really highlight the width do they. I'll see if I can drop by tomorrow and get an alternate picture. I think there is a plaque to some effect on the building as well, so maybe a picture of that too.--Bookandcoffee 08:39, 10 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Groovy. Thanks!  --AStanhope 15:20, 10 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Well, it took me a couple days, but I hope the new pic shows the width a little more clearly. The yellow plaque you can see in the photo reads: "'Ripley recognized this building constructed in 1913 as the narrowest in the world. Responding to a wager Chang Toy, owner of the Sam Kee Company, used bay windows and public baths under the sidewalk to maximize development on a site dramatically diminished by city road expropriation.'"--Bookandcoffee 23:03, 13 August 2007 (UTC)

This page talks a little about the building, and the comments (while perhaps not meeting Wikipedia's standards as a reference) capture some personal anecdotes. I walked by this building many many times in the 1970s, during which it housed a fabric store. Bolts of fabric don't require a lot of building width.

The main floor on ground level is only 4’11” (1.5 m) wide, making a photo of outstretched arms touching the walls a popular shot. The top floor is 6’ wide (1.83 m) because of the overhanging windows; the basement is 6’ wide because it extends underneath the sidewalk. Thick blocks of glass embedded in the sidewalk allow light to shine down into the basement.

Customers at [Kee's] general store had to be served through the windows. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Glenm125 (talk • contribs) 19:02, 16 February 2022 (UTC)