As the conundrum involving the decaying former Inn at Westview building continues, one thing is perfectly clear: an answer or clear direction on moving forward is far from forthcoming.
Building owner Seaboard Hotels, through the building’s caretaker Jack Barr, informed City of Powell River’s committee of the whole on February 13 that the company does not have the funds, or a source of financing, to cover the cost of tearing the derelict building down. At the same meeting, Barr stated he would like to see the eyesore of a building gone.
With ongoing pressure from the public and action from city council in the form of a remediation order issued in April 2017 telling Seaboard to tear the building down, all proponents involved have indicated a shared desire to move forward with the demolition.
Cost is the stumbling block, not desire or common sense.
The fact that Seaboard Hotels has allowed the building to deteriorate to its current state is not, and should not be, any responsibility of City of Powell River and its taxpayers. If it costs half a million dollars to demolish the building, that is the price of neglect since the hotel ceased operations. The price tag is a cost of doing business.
For many years, money was generated by the hotel and returned to its owners. If Seaboard owned the building at that time, its owners benefited financially. If it did not and subsequently purchased the property, new owners did so because they felt there could be a future financial benefit. Business decisions do not always turn out positively. In this case the owner needs to pay up and move on toward other better decisions.
While complexities surely exist for building owners to accomplish the task, responsibility lies with whoever decided to buy the property in the first place. Seaboard bought it, Seaboard owns it and Seaboard bears responsibility to take action.
The company has other interests in Powell River and other communities. Its principals need to use whatever assets it has to demolish the building and try to recoup what it can from any future sale or development.
Powell River is in desperate need of housing. Perhaps something can be done with the land to once again generate income when the eyesore has been removed.
