The land scape downtown will be like the prairies soon. In the next few weeks, the Prince Geogre Hotel will be coming down, along with its nieghbors in the 400 block of George Street.

Could Danny Boy explain the long term plan for downtown? Could he explain where he expects all the patrons of these business's to go! And when they move there, will he bulldoze those sites too???

The City of Prince George, should not be in the business of buying and selling real estate. When did they aquire these two properties??

Galdarn, we need a big shake up in this S#!+ hole!!!!

Will miss the graceful line of the old Bamboo House / Outrigger.

I hardly think it was the most deserving building to be knocked down downtown, but I suppose if a vacant lot is more valuable than the current structures, perhaps it was more run down than I thought.

Let us hope that it is replaced by something that does not look like a box, yet is not so abstract to be hideous.

I know we have to make way for the new but am saddened to see the Outrigger gone. I remeber when it was new and it was a classey place. Have enjoyed its atmosphere over the years.

Next we'll hear about the premium price the city paid for the lot... or do the taxpayers own that already?

In this community, at this time in its history, all that we have built over the years is vulnerable. We have not yet matured to the stage where the old is deserving of any respect.

As far as the new goes that might eventually replace some of these buildings. I doubt most will be any different. They might be "ornate" and "stylish" as far as today's fads go. Some might even be constructed well to address todays' concern with energy efficiency.

Look at today's courthouse. Like the Bamboo restaurant, it too was designed like a misplaced icon, looking more like a US state capitol building than any courthouse I have ever seen in Canada. Give it 50 years or so and it too will likely be ready for demolition.

What are the buildings then, that we might want to preserve to remind others of where we came from and what we achieved?

Where are the icons of our early years, our war years, and especially our years of so-called prosperity? Unlike some of our other smaller communities in southern interior part of this province, we have virtually no stately churches, museums, schools, theatres, private residences, etc.

No wonder people say, "bulldoze the place" and the City follows the wishes of the people.

gus, in a perfect world it would be nice to save these types of buildings, but it's just not feasible to keep empty and abandoned buildings standing for aesthetic or 'historical' purposes, and there certainly is a cost associated. I certainly don't want to foot the bill.

I understand that one of the City’s positions is that developers prefer properties that are unencumbered by buildings when they purchase them for redevelopment. That is the reason these two buildings were torn down.

If we apply that thinking to the Gaming Centre, it would mean that Commonwealth ought not to have bought that building since it stands in the way of developing the property.

Given that condition, most reasonable people would probably say that the City's position as I stated it is not quite what was meant. There is a condition there which must take into account the value of the improvement on the property.

Surely the value of something is in the eyes of the beholder which would be the final purchaser of the property. In other words, the person or corporation who will purchase the property for development, not for flipping to the next purchaser, should be the decision maker of what will stay and what will go. In many cities, and for many modern developers, having a building on a property that connects with the past is an asset rather than a disadvantage.

The downtown of PG does not have a lack of properties without buildings on them. Each property that is used for surface parking is such a property. Creating more such properties is not required to provide developable land. It took 2 years for B&B Music to finally build something on the property cleared by a fire. When they did, they only did so on part of that property. The Europe was levelled decades ago. Still no new building there. The Columbus was levelled this past year. A good wide property with southern exposure on the street. No developers clamouring for that property. Neither have there been for the parking lots on third next to CIBC and the old BoM. Same prime frontage. No building activity for decades.

There is no lack of developable properties. Any reasonable person must, therefore, arrive at the conclusion that the City has some very specific plans in mind for the properties it owns on that block.

The only thing that is not forthcoming is that they will not tell us what that is; much the same as they did not tell us why they were purchasing the property where we now know the RCMP station is going on.

"There is no lack of developable properties."

Totally agreed. There is however a lack of demand for properties, especially in the downtown area, and has been for many years.

There has definitely been a lack of demand by anyone.

At the moment I believe there is only one player, government, both municipal and provincial, and their associated programs.

Others are sniffing around to see what the actual timing of that demand will be and what that demand might support as far as private enterprise developments go.

Some of these old empty buildings have asbestos in them, if not heated properly they might get mould in them, squatters could move in with the dangers associated with that, they could become targets of vandalism and arson, etc.

I am glad that the City is taking a hands-on attitude by getting involved as a landlord.

Somebody has to do something.

If it is true that the whole block is coming down on that side together with the old hotel it certainly would be good news!

Clean empty lots with some strategically planted trees and benches certainly would look a hundred times better than the existing hovels.

Perhaps if somebody had bought the Bamboo House, renovated it and run it as a functioning restaurant it would be a different story.

However, nobody was willing to invest a pile of money in it.

So, down she goes.

"Clean empty lots with some strategically planted trees and benches certainly would look a hundred times better than the existing hovels."

Ah yes, nice gathering spots. Like the community gardens on Victoria and 7th, complete with chain link fence. Love it!!!

It is a shame that the Outrigger building did get torn down. It really was not in that bad of a shape.

The city almost seem to be operating under a hidden agenda. I think we are going to pull the downtown away from third Avenue and make George Street our main street of Down town.

I don't have an issue with the City spending some money to acquire properties and with efforts to try and develop the downtown. What I would like, however, is for someone from the City to actually explain what their plan is and what exactly is it they are trying to accomplish (in specific terms). At least then the plan could be critiqued and we could provide some input as residents.

Well, my thery is that it is the beaurecrats plan and the city council is just followingadvisement. Thus it is the wishes of a over enpowered snivel servants dream to chane the downtown.

Well, my thery is that it is the beaurecrats plan and the city council is just followingadvisement. Thus it is the wishes of a over enpowered snivel servants dream to chane the downtown.

"I don't have an issue with the City spending some money to acquire properties and with efforts to try and develop the downtown. What I would like, however, is for someone from the City to actually explain what their plan is and what exactly is it they are trying to accomplish (in specific terms). "

This is exactly why I'm against it. I don't think there is a specific plan. The City (aka the taxpayers) paid a half million+ dollars for the Norgate property and I still haven't heard a decent reason as to why?

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"Perhaps if somebody had bought the Bamboo House, renovated it and run it as a functioning restaurant it would be a different story.

However, nobody was willing to invest a pile of money in it.

So, down she goes."

Right on the money. We cannot afford to have empty buildings standing where they are subject to squatting and vandalism (and contributing to the further deterioration of the downtown). Find the investors and sure, keep the building standing. Otherwise, bulldoze it.

Well they need to put the pac centre some where dont they!

gus:"Ah yes, nice gathering spots..., Love it!!!"

So do I. Better than having smelly delapidated hovels there while we are awaiting new development and investment.

The *community garden* with the chopped off garbage cans is an eyesore, in my opinion.

Out of town visitors asked me what in the heck those rows of garbage cans there are all about!

At least they could have built some proper raised planting beds out of wood - beetle wood, maybe!

One phone call to Art Knapps and they would have gotten free advice on how to go about it!

Will the people who are suggesting secret agendas on the part of 'the city' please explain a few things: Who exactly is 'the city'? Why would they have a secret agenda? why would they have to keep it secret?
I dont think everything needs to be attributed to a conspiracy or secret agenda. Bad planning maybe? As far as the number of development properties goes, well that isnt really to the point is it? Property values, especially commercial ones are completely dependant on location and busines climate. Two hundred and fifty dirt cheap properties located in the middle of the landfill wouldnt sell either.
The problem isnt with meeting places, it is with who uses them. I was in quesnel a while back in the summer. They have a nice little downtown meeting area/street. There were a lot of people loitering there but it looked pretty friendly to me. Lets stick to the actual causes of the problem rather than letting the bad apples dictate what we can do with the downtown.

I know, how about another rehab center, or maybe something for the Natives/Indians (sorry I cant keep up with what the politically correct term is anymore), maybe another gambling establishment, or a bar. Sorry but the people running this city seem to be enabling everyone to continue in their current lifestyle or to continue being a victim. Rather than enabling them or contributing to their problems do something to help them take acountability for their lives and make a difference. I for one am tired of the how we tiptoe around on eggshells over the squatters and homeless, the addicts and the natives/indians. Anything happening seems to be about them. What about the honest white man who has worked his butt off and was hurt by the economy, and has done it honestly, where is his help through these tough times. Sorry, but I am one of those white men and am tired of hearing that because I am not a native/indian or someone who has an addiction problem that I dont get any help from any form of the government. So much for equality, so much for caring. I am tired of losing out simply because I am white. There is a government funded program to help natives /indians get jobs on the pipeline, where are the programs to help the white man? Someone explain this to me!!!

Its all good. The more old buildings go the sooner we get new ones.

exactly. when people are asked what should be done about downtown, the answer is invariably "Ugh, bulldoze it and start over." Thankfully, City Hall is doing just that. One less wall for the grubbies to pee on.

Anyone who drives along our highways knows that one does not need a wall to pee on. :-)

My answers to the questions posed. Others may have different answers.
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Who exactly is 'the city'?

A very fundamental question. A City is an "instrument" of the Province. At this time, the governing Provincial Act is the Community Charter. The Charter can be viewed at http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/freeside/--%20C%20--/Community%20Charter%20%20SBC%202003%20%20c.%2026/00_Act/03026_02.xml

It states that
(1) A municipality is a corporation of the residents of its area.

(2) The governing body of a municipality is its council.

Thus, we are the municipality and we elect the Council to govern for us and the Council hires a staff to administer the Municipality.
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Why would they have a secret agenda?

The only legitimate answer I have to that is that when it comes to land ownership and assembly, they feel that it is best that as few people know about it as possbile since land owners are likely to hold out for more money if they know that someone is interested in the land, especially a government since they have endless money. Of course, they also have expropriation powers.

There are other reasons why Cities have different views of what should be out in the open and what should not be.

Just like people and companies, not all cities are alike when it comes to how much they let the public know. The information is often there to see, it is just not willingly given. One has to know what they might want to know and how to go fishing for it. Just ask an investigative journalist how easy or difficult that might be for them.
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why would they have to keep it secret?

Similar to above. They think that if someone knew where the power plant is likely to be built, people will get up in arms about it. We have just had that happen.

The same with the Wellness Centre.

The same with low cost housing. Look at the years of concern about the housing on Queensway. Keep it a secret for as long as possible and you get less negative feedback and the development will be off the ground before people against the project can gather their forces.

With the Bamboo House/Outrigger building it would seem to me that excessive msg instead of asbestos from the bulldozed building site would be a worry.