A letter addressed to mayor and council presented at the Tuesday, October 2, committee of the whole meeting from Jack Barr, representing Seaboard Hotels, brings the demolition of the former Inn at Westview, at the owner’s expense, that much closer to fruition.
In the letter, Barr refers to numerous discussions with the city, and most recently a meeting with mayor Dave Formosa on September 25 in which they spoke at length about “the potential legal ramifications and years of costly litigation” should the city move forward with plans to demolish the structure and apply the costs to Seaboard.
Current estimates put the cost of demolition between $600,000 and $1 million with the most recent, independent fair market appraisal the city conducted putting the value of the land at 7050 Alberni Street at roughly $137,000.
Barr stated in the letter: “I stressed to you how fiscally imprudent it would be of me personally to invest close to $1 million dollars with no immediate [return on investment], nor any in the foreseeable future. However, the one aspect you kept reiterating to me, of which we both agreed, is the need to find a way to extinguish the continued negativity this issue continues to exude and that it will only get worse should further legal measures occur.”
Barr said he requested a demolition permit application from City Hall, which he will submit immediately upon receipt.
“We’re in the process of obtaining financing,” said Barr. “I’m talking to [demolition] guys right now and hopefully within 30 days we’ll get some confirmation on that and we can get going.”
The announcement is welcome news and a major step forward for the city, according to city clerk Chris Jackson.
“This letter, it cuts to the chase,” he said. “If [Barr] follows through on this in the next few weeks then we’re going down a path that was not anticipated a month ago.”
Councillor Russell Brewer said having this tangible pledge from the owner is of key importance to the city going forward.
“It’s a commitment in black and white on paper. From a legal perspective that's awesome,” he added.
When part of the letter was read aloud at Tuesday’s all-candidates meeting at Powell River Recreation Complex, some in attendance expressed skepticism about the timing of the announcement.
“Of course it’s come at a time that’s obviously convenient and coincidental,” said Brewer. “But it’s become an issue that a bunch of people keep pointing to.”
Barr said the announcement was indeed purposefully timed to hopefully take the issue out of the current election conversation. “Other candidates seemed to be putting it under their platform and I’d rather it not become an election campaign,” he said. “If the existing mayor is the one that’s been working with me over these years to try and get it done, then it would only seem logical, fair and equitable that this would be the way to do it instead of waiting until after.”
