No Extension for Columbus Demolition
By 250 News
Monday, September 15, 2008 08:23 PM
Debris stretches out into the parking lot behind the Columbus Hotel.
Prince George, B.C. – There won't be any extension to the demand that the Columbus hotel be demolished.
The owner of the burned out hotel has made his first public comments since the fire ravaged the buidling and took three lives. Rob Gibson told a special meeting of Council this evening that he agreed, the building is a hazard, but the problem is people think he hasn't been doing anything since the deadly fire. "We have been working with the insurance company and we are waiting for the engineer's report. I was told I would get it last Friday,and now I am being told I will get it tomorrow. The insurance company wants three estimates before it will award the demolition contract and I can't get those estimates without the engineer's report."
Gibson told Council the real problem is that the foundation of the building is also the wall of the Generator on the East, and the H and R Block building on the west side. There is a real concern that pulling down the two cement walls to ground level will result in the basement walls of the two neighbours sloughing in.
That is a real concern says the City's engineer, Fergus Foley, who recommended the building be taken down immediately. He also told Council he confirmed his initial suspicion about the danger of the building, and 
while he believes there is a real fault in the concrete walls, the site is too dangerous to get close enough to confirm those concerns. Foley told Council the third floor is only suspended by roof joists, and there are some sections that are only being held up by debris "Sooner or later something is going to shift" says Foley.
while he believes there is a real fault in the concrete walls, the site is too dangerous to get close enough to confirm those concerns. Foley told Council the third floor is only suspended by roof joists, and there are some sections that are only being held up by debris "Sooner or later something is going to shift" says Foley. Councillor Glen Scott wanted to give the owner two extra weeks, that was rejected by his Council colleagues. Councillor Don Zurowski suggested a 7 day extension and that too was rejected. Even though the site is under 24 hour security watch, that wasn't enough to swing Councillor Brian Skakun towards granting an extension "I am not here to negotiate public safety." The Mayor was on the same page saying this was a safety issue,and he didn't think there was any insurance company that would argue with that, "I think we should move forward and we can all sleep with ease."
(at right, three white hand made crosses sit in the three wall shell of the Columbus Hotel, marking the fact that three men died as a result of the hotel fire. photo Opinion250 staff)
Earlier today, samples were taken from the site to check for asbestos. Given the age of the building it is quite possible there will be some asbestos which means the demolition will require dust supression. The City has already issued a tender for the demolition of the Hotel and has five bids. All five applicants have experience dealing with asbestos removal. The tender could be awarded asearly as the 17th.
at left, a pile of debris sits in the parking lot behind the remains of the Columbus Hotel.
So with no extension, the process of removing the debris and demolishing the remaining walls will start Wednesday. If the owner hasn't started the work by then, the City will award the tender, and the cost will be added to the taxes owed the City.
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Posted by: gus on September 15 2008 10:26 PM