LangleyAdvance
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Friday, November 19, 2010
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Walls tumbling as Fort gets major renos A new wooden wall will rise up around the Fort, replacing the rotting old structure.
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tions decades apart. The oldest parts go back to the 1950s, the newest to the 1990s, but all the sections have suffered some deterioration and rotting over the years. The Fort site is also renovating almost every building inside the palisade, and its gift shop. The gift shop and entry building will be rebuilt with more historical information
Mayors do not appear to be supportive of a TransLink property tax.
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about both the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Kwantlen First Nation. Inside, there will be a new forge, along with renovations to the original storehouse, a new kids area, a First Nations showpiece, and tweaks to the restaurant. Other changes are designed to make the Fort more friendly for people in wheelchairs.
The paths to and through the Fort are being switched from gravel to a harder chip-seal surface, and windows in the blacksmith’s shop have been lowered. The renovations are fueled by federal infrastructure grants. The basic mission of the Fort won’t change. “We’re still telling the stories of the Fort,” said Aldag.
Jarvis continued a recent trend among cipal as a “backstop” measure. If approved, TransLink officials, admitting that the cities it would take effect in 2012 and would cost south of the Fraser River had been poorly $8.91 per $100,000 of a home’s value. served when it comes to transit. However, many mayors around the region “We know that there’s an have expressed doubts about by Matthew Claxton underinvestment in transit and the tax or have outright refused mclaxton@langleyadvance.com transportation,” Jarvis said. to vote for it. To date, Langley Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender He said TransLink has been getTownship Mayor Rick Green, admitted it looks unlikely the TransLink ting its house in order, eliminated along with mayors from Surrey, Mayors’ Council will pass a proposed prop100 administrative positions in Delta, Vancouver, Burnaby, and erty tax increase. recent years, and has become one the North Shore all seem to be Fassbender, who chairs TransLink’s of the most cost-efficient transit falling on the “no” side. Mayors’ Council pitched the idea organizations in the world. Without the tax in place, of the tax to the Greater Langley He noted that savings will be Fassbender said the province Chamber of Commerce Tuesday used to fund the first year of transit will finish the Evergreen night, as part of a presentation expansions. If the Moving Forward Line one way or another, Peter Fassbender with TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis. plan can be funded, almost half of but TransLink won’t be at Langley City mayor The Moving Forward plan the increase in bus service would the table. includes money to finish the be in the South of the Fraser region. The situation could end long-delayed Evergreen Line rail By 2015, TransLink believes it could up in another stand off over funding COMMENT project, as well as to expand reduce per capita vehicle kilometres travbetween TransLink and the province, ONLINE bus service around the region, elled, reversing a long-term trend. he said. including in Langley and Surrey. The TransLink Mayors Council will vote “We need to develop a new climate The transit authority hopes that the provon the tax plan on Dec. 9. Regardless of the of trust,” he said. ince can be convinced to fund much of the vote, they have recently signed a memoranFassbender encouraged chamber members expansion in service. But Fassbender said dum of understanding with the province to to hold politicians’ feet to the fire, to force the property tax must be approved in prinlook at alternative funding sources. them to find a long-term funding solution. www.langleyadvance.com
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Fort Langley’s John Aldag said the historic site will stay open even as the wooden palisade is being torn down and replaced.
TransLink tax appears doomed
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The walls are coming down this winter at the Fort Langley National Historic Site. The entire palisade – the log wall surrounding the Fort – is being torn out and replaced as part of a $3 million renovation of the entire park site. “We’re staying open right through it,” said manager John Aldag. The main gate to the Fort has already been replaced, and sections of the palisade to the south of the gate and on the southeastern edge have already been pulled down. The last segment to be replaced will be the northern edge, including the elevated walkway between the two battlements. Museum staff hope to see the entire palisade replaced by March of next year. The palisade was built in sec-