Chances Building Gets Second Chance

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 04:38 AM

Prince George, B.C. - With a million dollar loan to start renovations, the Commonwealth Health facility is moving forward.

July 31^st, Commonwealth Health Corporation (owned by Commonwealth Financial) purchased the former Chances Gaming Centre at 7^th and Quebec Street from John Major. The price tag has not been disclosed. The idea is to renovate the existing building by putting in a full second floor, and dividing up the interior into office space for dentists and physicians.

“The project will be completely stratified” says owner Dan McLaren, “So each office will be independently owned.” McLaren says the building can handle extra floors being added to it, up to 6 in fact, but Commonwealth Health will start with two “I don’t see us going to the full 150 thousand square feet, (all six floors)".

Because funding has been loaned under the federal government’s economic stimulus package, the building has to be ready within 19 months. “Our mandate is to move as quickly as possible, I would like to see hammers swinging away within 6 months and the whole thing finished in a year and a half” says McLaren.

The initial building construction permit included a provision for townhomes, and McLaren says they will honour that commitment, “Obviously we’re going to need an extension beyond the August 16^th date that’s there (in the original contract) but we’ve assumed that commitment and we will not only build the six, but something more substantial than that but I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”

The changes to the building will include replacing some of the exterior walls with floor to ceiling windows. McLaren says they are currently getting construction quotes for the work.

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Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 04:38 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: gus on August 25 2009 7:43 AM

More substantial housing

1. for families stauing in town to ve with out of town cancer patients?

2. for seniors?

3. for low income families?

4. for the homeless?

5. for students?

6. for those who can afford $250,000+ condos?

Come on, which will it be? Where is a guaranteed sale to get it off Commonwealth's books as quickly as possible?

Posted by: Moses on August 25 2009 8:29 AM

Why are federal funds being used to finance private ownership of strata-title medical offices?

Why can't the doctors and dentists (and building owner) go to a commercial bank for financing like the rest of us?

The last time I looked the local doctors and dentists were weathering the global recession just fine.

Posted by: RUEZ on August 25 2009 8:37 AM

Where's all these Doctors you speak of? If this building will help bring more to town or at least have a second walk in clinic then great.

Posted by: gus on August 25 2009 8:42 AM

"Why can't the doctors and dentists (and building owner) go to a commercial bank for financing like the rest of us?"

It may be that they did and no one bit.

The reason why they are getting assistance may actuallY lie in these words from the article:
"Obviously we�re going to need an extension beyond the August 16th date that�s there (in the original contract) but WE'VE ASSUMED THAT COMMITMENT and we will not only build the six, but SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN THAT but I�ve been sworn to secrecy.�

Posted by: DPJ on August 25 2009 8:56 AM

John Major got away without building the townhouses. Probably never intended to build them in the first place.

Good to see the building sold and will be in use sooner than later.

Posted by: CaringSoul on August 25 2009 11:38 AM

Don't worry about Major getting away with anything. From what I see and hear from bingo players the numbers are down. The numbers were down when they moved into this building and even worse up at the Casino. One of the biggest complaints is having to walk all the way through the Casino to get to the bingo part. Why on green earth they do not have their own entrance is the biggest mistake yet. John is like the government where he does not listen to the people! Just crams his own needs and wants down the throats of the people who ultimately pay his wages. *Grin

Posted by: Rounder on August 25 2009 3:20 PM

It's a million dollar loan - which means it will have to be re-paid over a term. That building will look a lot nicer with some windows in it and it will compliment the entrance facade.

Who owns the the parkade now?

Posted by: Harbinger on August 25 2009 3:23 PM

The building still looks like an empty tin can turned inside out.

Posted by: StreetWise2 on August 25 2009 3:35 PM

The City still owns the parkade.

Posted by: MrPG on August 25 2009 10:38 PM

"One of the biggest complaints is having to walk all the way through the Casino to get to the bingo part."

Are bingo players really lazy or just out of shape in general?

Posted by: Junco on August 25 2009 10:44 PM

"One of the biggest complaints is having to walk all the way through the Casino to get to the bingo part."

Are bingo players really lazy or just out of shape in general?

They probably just don't want to be associated with gamblers and other riff raff. chuckle.

Posted by: metalman on August 26 2009 8:56 AM

Maybe the bingo-ists don't want the temptation of all those one armed bandits.
I don't really understand at all why the government has to get involved in deals like this building purchase, but then I am also not smart enough to understand the logic in selective bailouts of large manufacturers and financial institutions who were certainly the authors of their own despair. Shoulda stayed in school!
metalman.

Posted by: Rounder on August 26 2009 10:35 AM

It won't be long before people can gamble from the comfort of their home anyways.

BCLC is going to launch their own on-line gambling website and offer up Blackjack, etc.

http://www.gamingintelligence.com/index.php/newsbites/2743-bclc-online-gaming-launch-to-challenge-offshore-operators

Posted by: MrPG on August 26 2009 10:45 AM

People can gamble online anyway with or without the BCLC's help. The government just wants a piece of the action. At least the losers will be contributing to BC's coffers and not some offshore business somewhere.

Posted by: Rounder on August 26 2009 10:47 AM

So people who gamble online are losers? Or as in people who lose money?LOL

Posted by: MrPG on August 26 2009 10:51 AM

I meant people who lose money. And there will be plenty of those... casinos are built on them.

Posted by: Harbinger on August 26 2009 5:11 PM

Grumble about giving HST to the government but don't think twice about dropping a wad of dough gambling. Two faced suckers with their VOLUNTARY tax gift to the government. If you buy lottery tickets or gamble at a casino and then whine about the HST you are a hypocrite. Reason that statement away, if you dare.