NORTH VANCOUVER’S Larco Investments Ltd. has purchased the Park Plaza Country Club from Canada Trustco Mortgage Co. for an estimated $1.7 million. Larco purchased the 4.38-acre Property through the separate numbered company 332391 B.C. Lid. A Larco spokesman was unavailable for comment to press time Thursday, but according to the original offer, the Larco sub- sidiary would continue to operate Park Plaza, 2035 Fullerton Ave., as a recreational facility. An offer from United Properties Lid. to buy Park Plaza for $2.1 By TIMOTHY RENSHAW News Reporter million was accepted by Thorne, July 12 by the receiver-manager, Ernst & Whinney, the club’s receiver-manager, in February 1987, but the deal fell through after North Vancouver District did not approve rezoning to allow a residential development on the property. The club, which was reopened aya NEWS photo Tom Burlay SCHOOL GOT really scary at Grand Boulevard Preschoo! Wednes- day as children and participating parents celebrated Halloween enrly with a party. Alexander Blair, 3%, (left), Rosie Western, 4, and preschool helper Sheilagh Martin explore the contents of a Jack-o’- lantern. Classified Ads........ Doug Collins..... Editorial Page. . Home & Garden...... Mailhox..............+. North Shore Wow. . TV Listings..... What's Going On........29 D y has been the subject of a com- plicated court battle since it was placed in receivership June 13, 1986. Prior to July 12, its six squash, seven racquetball and three tennis courts had been idle since the club closed Jan, 16, 1987. Canada Trustco, which owns the mortgage on the club property, is owed $1.86 million by former Park Plaza ownership and has been at- tempting to sell the property for redevelopment since it was closed, but AACR Enterprises Ltd., which Operates the club’s bar and ban- quet facilities, has fought to keep CITY COUNCIL TO SPE the property a recreation club so the company can continue to run its business or be compensated in the event of a sale. Since the club’s closure, AACR and Canada Trustco have waged various court battles over whether AACR's Sease arrangement or Truste~’s mortgage have legal pri- ority in any sale of the property. Under the terms of the recent sale, Larco accepted AACR's lease, which will allow AACR to continue its business in the facility. AACR president Andy Redman said Thursday he was happy that the club had been purchased. 3 ~ Friday, October 28, 1988 - North Shore News “It’s good for the community,’’ he said. ‘We wanted some stabili- ty and that’s what we got.”’ The Larco purchase follows re- cent reports that the North Van- couver-baused development com- pany is completing a deal to ac- quire the Arbutus Village Shopp- ing Centre in Vancouver, Westminster Quay Public Market in New Westminster, Ladner Cen- tre in Ladner and Saanich Plaza in Victoria. A subsidiary of Larco, No. {1 Sail View Ventures, bought the $42 million Mandarin Hotel for an estimated $13 million late last year. ND $8,000 ON OUTING NY alderman scoffs at weekend retreat NORTH VANCOUVER Ald. Rod Clark will be staying home this weekend while senior North Vancouver City staff, mayor and council head for an estimated $8,000 weekend retreat to Lord Jim’s Resort Hotel at Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast. Clark said he’s chosen not to at- tend the municipal brainstorming session, approved earlier this year, “*as a matter of principle.’’ “*I believe we taxpayers will be poorly served by the $8,000 cost for a trip to a fishing lodge. My problem is that it could have been done here,’’ he said. ‘Why are council retreating to the Sunshine Coast for a weekend at such a cost, when our seniors are being asked to pay more and more for services at Silver Harbour and North Shore Neighbourhood House?’’ Clark asked. Clark said he made & motion be- fore council Sept. 19, asking that an agenda for the planned Oct. 29 and 30 retreat be made public two weeks prior to the dates, and that a subsequent summary report detail- ing the discussions and any actions resulting from discussions be made Friday and Saturday, mostly sunny. Highs near 10°C. Reader $100 richer for filing out News survey THE FIRST thing that North Vancouver’s Erika Stichnoth has ever won is a $100 prize for participating in the North Shore News’ How Do We Measure Up? reader survey. An avid News reader since 1972, the North Vancouverite won the prize when her survey was drawn from a total of 629 surveys receiv- ed. In the survey, readers were ask- ed to rate the News on everything from local news coverage to col- umnists and comics, and the results are now being compiled by computer. Highlights will be published in a future News issue. “It’s essential in finding out what the readers want,’? News marketing director Tim Francis said of the two-page survey. ‘‘They tell us what they want, and we try to give it to them.” When she saw the News survey, Stichnoth realized that many peo- ple might not take the time to fill out the detailed questionnaire; so she took the few minutes and as a result came up a winner. “7 feel that the spirit of the North Shore is really there in your paper,”’ she said of the News. By MICHAEL BECKER public soon after the retreat. But the motion was defeated, with Clark and Ald. Stella Jo Dean the only aldermen in support of the motion. Said Clark: ‘‘There was mo debate on the issue. I was astonished when the majority of ty plan. But said Loucks: ‘I'm disap- pointed he’s (Clark) not going. It’s the first time we've done some- thing like this, and quite frankly, it’s been long overdue. We deal with a jot of business at council and quite often we don’t finish the things we need to do. Council needs the time to sit down and took ahead. The city is changing. I think it’s important to discuss where it’s heading. You sometimes need to sit down and have a brainstorm session as a group without confrontation.”* But said Dean: ‘I’m surprised counci! is giving up a weekend “2m surprised council is giving up a weekend when they won't even stay past 10:30 p.m. at council meetings and business items are postponed.”’ — North Vancouver City Ald. Stella Jo Dean council would not go forward with But said North Vancouver City Mayor Jack Loucks: ‘‘In general, people felt at the time that it didn’t make any sense. We felt that in due course the results of any delib- erations would come out.”’ Said Dean, who said she may or may not be attending the retreat because of an inner ear problem: “Everybody’s going on retreats. {t’s a buzzword. I’m concerned with the cost. I just feel that it could have been held in town. The type of things being discussed should really be discussed in open council.” Specific topics to be considered by the municipal officials include social housing, budget priorities, capital works, Lower Lonsdale lands, parking, fiscal policy, heritage and the official communi- bo Wr | ME ASURE. of when they won't even stay past 10:30 p.m. at council meetings and business items are postponed.” But Loucks said by arranging an out-of-town meeting for the seven staff members and council, the group could ‘‘concentrate on the job.”’ Dean said the issue was first brought forward at council June 20 in the form of a motion by Ald. Barbara Sharp. She said it was defeated :- ad brought forward again June 27 for discussion. She said the initial budget considered for the trip was $3,0CG, but that the budget grew to over $6,000 when the trip was eventually ap- proved by council July 25. Said Loucks: ‘‘It cost more than we expected because there were staff members necessary to be there to provide knowledge and history.’’ NEWS photo Terry Peters ERIKA STICHNOTH of North Vancouver won $100 by filling out the North Shore News’ reader survey.