City of Powell River should consider ponying up $137,000 in order to assume ownership of the soon-to-be-vacant land site at the former Inn at Westview ["Demolition underway at former Inn at Westview in Powell River," December 14].
The city could leverage some of its Santé Veritas Therapeutics/TILT Holdings share options to facilitate the transfer of ownership and transform it into a park. The last thing one would expect to see when commuting to an asphalt-encircled shopping mall are trees, shrubs, flowers, picnic tables and a totem pole or two at its epicentre.
Subconsciously this transformation would drive more traffic to the mall and would be a boon for current merchants. Now back to reality.
The current owner will never sell, another revenue generating structure will be put in its place, and it will all come down to an exercise in increasing one’s net worth. Currency should be about more than a series of digits languishing on an investment statement. It should also go into circulation for the greater public good.
If the current owner is concerned with making a return on their investment, then they could name the park after their family. Now that is a truly priceless legacy.
Out-of-the-big box thinking is the difference maker between a good town and a great town.
Steve Perkins
Blair Road, Van Anda
