In 1931 James Dawson, Olmsted Brothers firm partner, met with Alfred J. T. Taylor, engineer, entrepreneur, and Vancouver native, then working in London representing British Pacific Properties, Ltd., to discuss that company’s purchase of 4,000 acres of sloping, thickly wooded land in temperate West Vancouver, from the Capilano River to Horseshoe Bay. Underwritten by numerous investors, the intent was to develop these panoramic parcels into high-end residential communities with amenities. The area was to be called Capilano, from a First Nations name meaning “beautiful river.”
Dawson advised the syndicate to buy out “in-holdings” to have full control, and to acquire beachfront property for a range of opportunities. Between 1931 and 1937, the Olmsted firm, together with Canadian golf architect Stanley Thompson, laid out Capilano Estates and the Capilano Golf and Country Club on 1,100 acres. Curving, north–south roads on manageable grades were carved out of virgin forests along the steep slopes, providing for uphill and downhill house sites, with views toward water or mountains. They retained acreage for schools and community amenities and protected watercourses with surrounding parkland. The Olmsted firm’s layout essentially remains to this day.
Olmsted Brothers also consulted on the construction of the nearby Lions Gate Bridge from 1933 through 1937. The 5000-foot-long steel cable suspension bridge designed by Monsarrat and Pratley opened in 1939 and connects Vancouver and West Vancouver. Olmsted Brothers made recommendations to realign traffic interchanges, particularly around Lost Lagoon.
Dawson also planned Taylor Way as a distinctive entry point--an ascending, broad, straight, tree-lined boulevard, offering downhill vistas to the Lions Gate Bridge and across Burrard Inlet. He envisioned a substantial plaza as the uphill terminus. Such expenditure was rejected by stockholders, resulting in the extant Taylor Way boulevard ending with a nondescript traffic circle. Implementation of the full eighteen-hole golf course according to Thompson’s layout, with significant clubhouse facilities, was truncated by budgetary concerns, though the course remains a challenging par seventy-one with undulating greens lined with firs. The Lions Gate Bridge was designated as a Historic Site of Canada in 2004.
Mwaka 1931 James Dawson, mshirika wa kampuni ya Olmsted Brothers, alikutana na Alfred J. T. Taylor, mhandisi, mfanyabiashara, na mwenyeji wa Vancouver, ambaye wakati huo alikuwa akifanya kazi London akiwakilisha British Pacific Properties, Ltd. ili kujadili ununuzi wa kampuni hiyo ya ekari 4,000 za ardhi yenye miti mingi katika eneo la Vancouver Magharibi, kutoka Mto Capilano hadi Ghuba ya Horseshoe. Kwa kuungwa mkono na wawekezaji wengi, nia ilikuwa kuendeleza viwanja hivi vya panoramic katika jamii za makazi ya hali ya juu na vifaa. Eneo hilo lilipaswa kuitwa Capilano, kutoka kwa jina la First Nations linalomaanisha "mto mzuri". Dawson alishauri shirika hilo kununua "mali" ili kuwa na udhibiti kamili, na kupata mali ya pwani kwa fursa mbalimbali. Kati ya 1931 na 1937, kampuni ya Olmsted, pamoja na mbuni wa gofu wa Canada Stanley Thompson, waliweka Capilano Estates na Capilano Golf na Country Club kwenye ekari 1,100 za ardhi. Barabara zenye mviringo kutoka kaskazini hadi kusini kwenye vilele vinavyoweza kudhibitiwa zilitengenezwa katika misitu ya bikira kando ya mteremko mkali, zikitoa maeneo ya nyumba za kupanda na kushuka, na kutazama maji au milima. Walihifadhi eneo kwa ajili ya shule na vifaa vya jamii na kuhifadhi vijito vya maji na mbuga zinazozunguka. Mpangilio wa kampuni ya Olmsted kimsingi unabaki hadi leo. Ndugu Olmsted pia walisaidia katika ujenzi wa Daraja la Lions Gate lililokuwa karibu kuanzia mwaka wa 1933 hadi 1937. Daraja la kusimamishwa la chuma lenye urefu wa mita 5000, lililobuniwa na Monsarrat na Pratley, lilifunguliwa mnamo 1939 na linaunganisha Vancouver na West Vancouver. Ndugu Olmsted walifanya mapendekezo ya kurekebisha njia za usafiri, hasa karibu na Lost Lagoon. Dawson pia alipanga Taylor Way kama hatua ya kipekee ya kuingia - mlima unaopanda, mpana, wa moja kwa moja, uliozungukwa na miti, ukitoa maoni ya kushuka kwa Daraja la Lions Gate na kuvuka Burrard Inlet. Aliona mbele uwanja mkubwa kuwa mwisho wa mwinuko. Gharama hizo zilikataliwa na wanahisa, na kusababisha barabara ya Taylor Way iliyopo iishe kwa mzunguko wa trafiki usioeleweka. Utekelezaji wa kamili kumi na nane-shimo golf kozi kulingana na mpangilio Thompson ya, na muhimu clubhouse vifaa, ilikuwa truncated na wasiwasi wa bajeti, ingawa kozi bado changamoto par sabini na moja na undulating kijani lined na firs. Leo, daraja la Lions Gate limeorodheshwa kama eneo la kihistoria la Canada.