Work at city hall to deal with one of Powell River’s most unsightly buildings is moving forward despite challenges.
City of Powell River clerk Marie Claxton said that the question of what to do with the old Inn at Westview building is coming up for discussion again.
“Background work has been done looking at what options we have,” said Claxton. “But nothing has come before council yet.”
The issue was discussed at length at an August committee of the whole meeting, but a solution to the problem has not yet been found.
Claxton said the issue is on the council’s action list and city chief administration officer Mac Fraser will present some options on how to deal with the dilapidated building when the issue comes before council next month.
Powell River Chamber of Commerce president Jack Barr wrote to the Peak in a letter to the editor that he is not the owner of the Inn at Westview building. Barr explained that he has an agreement with the property owner, Seaboard Hotels Ltd., to keep the building as secure as possible.
He added he is also troubled by the state of disrepair the building has fallen into, though without the necessary funds for demolition, about $300,000, or viable business opportunity, the building’s owner probably will continue to let it stand, despite its appearance.
The building is uninhabitable with roof failures in several locations throughout and contains hazardous materials, so conventional demotion or a controlled burn have been ruled out.
Seaboard Hotels Ltd. is a Kelowna-based corporation that also owns the Beach Gardens Resort and Marina in Powell River. Brian Smith is listed as a company director. The company’s registered office and mailing address is at Thomas Butler LLC, a lawyer’s office in Kelowna.
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