Eyesore removal
My thought would be to have a Community Demolish Day [“Old hotel needs to come down says council,” August 26]. There is enough interest in “removing the eyesore,” right?
Call on the high school shop class (great work experience for students), Pow!Town Roller Derby team, hockey teams, gymnastics team members, Rotary and other service clubs, interested general public who are not afraid to swing a mallet or use a pry bar, then ask some local demolition or construction contractors (or their trained crew members) to be the crew leaders. Get the City of Powell River Council involved...yes gloves, safety boots, hammers and hardhats..all of them.
Ask McDonalds, Tim Hortons, Save-On-Foods Deli or River City Coffee, or any and all caterers, to donate lunch and coffee break items. Walmart, RONA Building Centre and Canadian Tire could maybe donate work gloves and a rental company could donate use of some tools.
Of course, there would have to be on-site safety training, St. John Ambulance with a First-Aid tent.
I’m not sure how insurance would fit into this...maybe waivers?
It may be an organizational nightmare, a huge task, but I think it can be done. (Look how well Blackberry Festival is pulled off every year.)
I say, bring your safety gear, strong backs and heart. I know that if I was there at the time, I would volunteer to help. I own property in town, and my annual vacation is spent in Powell River. Soon, I will retire there.
I wish council good luck in whatever route it chooses. Just think of the possibilities of that space.
Kelly Townsend
(currently) Waterloo,Ontario
Reuse of the old inn
I fully endorse City of Powell River Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman’s idea to turn the old Inn at Westview into low-cost housing [“Old hotel needs to come down says council,” August 26].
I also think we have many other buildings that could be re-used and turned into low-cost housing. It would be far cheaper than wrecking old buildings, and it would be recycling. It would save millions of dollars and provide much needed work for builders and construction workers.
Brin Wilson
Egmont Street
