The Heatley Block, a two-storey, wood-frame apartment and retail block located on the southwest corner of Heatley Avenue and East Hastings Street was built in 1931 by Italian-born hotelier Samuel Plastino. It is a rare example of a commercial/residential building which has not been significantly altered or modernized. Prior to the construction of the Heatley Block, the site was occupied by two houses built in 1889 and 1898. These two houses, which originally faced Hastings Street, were moved to the back of their lots and reoriented to face Heatley Avenue.