S TANDARD TERRACE
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VOL. 25 NO. 34
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
City talks Co-op property priorities There should be a blend of public and private developments on the old Terrace Co-op site located just west of the Best Western Terrace Inn, a city task force has determined. After a year of research and meetings, the group’s recommendations include a hotel with restaurant and retail space, a heritage centre, green space, a brew pub and parking. “The development of the former Co-op property will have a dramatic positive impact to our downtown and our community,” said Terrace’s mayor Dave Pernarowski after the recommendations were released at a Nov. 26 city council meeting. “Council will continue to take actions that ensure this happens in the shortest time frame possible.”
The site once contained a thriving shopping centre owned by the Terrace Co-operative Association but it closed in the late 1990s when the forest industry collapsed. Sold at first to a private developer, the city bought it in 2005 and has been trying to figure out a use for the property ever since. It tore down the shopping centre building a year ago, saying the chances of the property attracting developers was slim as long as the building remained. “The city should consider contracting an architect to provide a cohesive concept for the property,” suggested task force chair Bob Park to council while presenting recommendations. He added that local First Nations could be contacted about building a long house
or museum. Public space would consist of a plaza or square with the remaining property sold to developers to provide tax revenue to the city. There’s incentive for developers through the city’s downtown improvement tax exemption which allows for improvements to buildings and property that aren’t factored in to taxable value for five years. Building a hotel is at the top of the recommendation list. “The need for more hotel rooms is evident in the community,” said the report, recommending a 100room limited service hotel with retail and restaurant space built in. Next on the list is a heritage centre, which mentions the Terrace’s Museum Society’s efforts to
build a museum and archival space at a minimum of 3,000 square feet in the downtown. “A museum to store and display artifacts would meet the current zoning and would also complement the George Little House,” read the report, which estimated 10,000 square feet of property would fit the museum’s needs. In addition to the museum, a long house or First Nations museum could be built either separately or jointly on the property, requiring up to 20,000 square feet. Next up, green space is recommended as a use for the property. “Green space would enhance the aesthetic of the property and would provide some public space,” the report reads, suggesting the city look into buying some land
from CN Rail along the southern part of the property and extend the Grand Trunk Pathway. Or, extra space along the Greig Ave. side of the property could be set aside for green space as an inviting place for pedestrians. A group of local investors wanting to build a brew pub on the property have already signed a purchase option. Planned is a small brewery with food and entertainment on the northwest corner of the Co-op property near the Western Financial Group and Staples. “This facility will provide some tax revenue to the city as a private business,” reads the report. Lastly, parking will be required, the report acknowledges.
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Demolish derelict buildings: council
MARGARET SPEIRS PHOTO
■■ Kettle kickoff marylin davies, city councillor, is the first volunteer to help kick off the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, its big fundraiser, at Canadian Tire Dec. 1. That’s regional district administrator Bob Marcellin making the first donation. Kettles will also be set up at Walmart, Real Canadian Wholesale Store, Save on Foods, Safeway and the BC Liquor Store.
TERRACE CITY council has given owners of three derelict buildings on Little Ave. 60 days to tear them down and clean up the yards or the city will do it for them and send them the bill for the work. Two of the properties contain Second World War-era military housing and the third was once a hospital. The structures at 4520 Little Ave. owned by Sandra and Wayne Kirby, 4440 Little Ave. by Lloyd Wittkowski and 4450 Little Ave. by the estate of Bertha Vogel have been the subject of complaints and warnings by public officials of safety, health and nuisance hazards for years. The decisions reached by council Nov. 26 followed months of closed door sessions about what action to take. City officials prepared nearly 100 pages of information and photos for council to consider in reaching the three decisions. Little Ave., a graveled section of road barely one lane wide and full of potholes, is located just east of the arena and aquatic centre and resembles more of a back lane than a city street.
In the case of the Wittkowski property, city records indicate complaints going back to 1990. He didn’t acquire the property until the mid 2000s. “(There’s) a long history of issues on this property,” noted city official David Block. “The ground has pushed in a wall of the crawl space,” said an excerpt of one report on the structure. “Some of the strong smell in there is a result of (cats) presence and indicates an unsanitary situation.” No plumbing or heating is available in the building, electricity only services one light, stairs and landings are in poor and dangerous condition and the foundation has been affected by rot, said the report. “If fire were to spread, it would spread rapidly and potentially be life endangering,” said Block to council. “Reconstruction would not make viable sense.” After a round of letters demanding action from the city late this summer, Wittkowski indicated he would tear down at least part of the building by now. It still stands.
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Take a stand
Charges laid
Climb on
College students raise awareness about bullying \COMMUNITY A16
Two teens who allegedly vandalized a power pole are officially charged \NEWS A15
Caledonia’s new climbing wall gets community boost \SPORTS A26