91原创 City will spend $556,000 to demolish four buildings it owns near city hall, including the site where the old 91原创 Hotel and a pawn shop stand unoccupied, as well as the former Avecina Medical Clinic and pharmacy, and a small mall that used to house Pipe 鈥檔鈥� Pouch and Pastime Sports.
The contract with RDM Enterprises was approved Monday, Nov. 6.
In his , City Mayor Nathan Pachal said once the demolition is done, the sites will be used for temporary parking, to make up for the loss of spaces elsewhere.
Long term, 鈥渢he City plans to use the land around City hall and Timms Community Centre to expand them and to build a performing arts centre,鈥� Pachal said.
Fences are up at three of the buildings, and a statement released by the City in response to an Advance Times query said the structures 鈥渨ill be demolished over the coming months.鈥�
In addition to parking, it said the cleared sites will be used for 鈥渢actical urbanism elements, which may include the creation of new active and passive recreational opportunities.鈥�
It鈥檚 part of the City plan to prepare for the arrival of SkyTrain, under the Nexus of Community Visioning Plan and the Downtown Master Plan, the unsigned statement said.
鈥淭he City has strategically acquired the properties adjacent to City hall/Timms Community Centre to create a civic precinct and an entertainment district as per the visioning plan.鈥�
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