Chapters, brew pub proposed for N. Van site Chris Bryan Contributing Writer RESIDENTS who gathered at a Tuesday night public hearing at the Avalon Hotel laud- ed a proposal many believe will open a new chapter in the life of North Vancouver’s Marine Drive. Mark James, clorhier, restaurateur and owner of the Avalon Hotel, presented plans for 2 $6 miilien development that would replace the hotel with a Chapters bookstore, a restaurant, brew pub and cold beer and wine store at the southwest corner of Marine and McKay Road. “We felt quite positive about it,” said Lions Gate Neighbourhood Association vice-president Valerie Meller, teferring to a previous meet- ing between her group and the Mark James Group. “We felt it could set a precedent for improving the Marine Drive corridor.” The bookstore would be about 26,000 square feer (2,415 sq. m), with the majority on the second floor of the two-storey development. The entire building would be built from a combination of brick, concrete and glass, in a traditional style “not unlike Paine Hardware,” according to architect Timothy Ankenman. The’ restaurant (9,000 square feet; 836 sq. m) and brew pub (3,000 square feet; 279 sq. m) would be called the Avalon Brewing Company. Ankenman said the pub and restaurant wouid -have post-and-beam construction, several fireplaces, and will feature local art on the walls. Ruaning from the front to the back, through the centre of the building, would be a “breezeway” —~ a partially covered corridor with glass on cither side, allowing a clear line of sight between Chapters and the brew pub across the way. Two small grain silos at the frone and baik of the breezeway and a glassed-in brewing area would allow the public to watch the The size of the bookstore is average for Chapters, said Ankenman, and is similar to the location at Broadway and Granville. A Starbucks Coffee outlet would operate on the second floor. The plan includes 43 parking spaces behind the building and 70 underground. Ankenman said the Marine Drive side of the pro- ject would be fined with oak trees and the sidewalks would be 15 feet (4.6 m) wide. Moller said the proposal could transform the Avalon section of Marine from a thoroughfare into a destination. “itl make it more pedesetrian-friendly and less like a Kingsway,” Moller said. “li’s a drawing card for people to come rather than just driving down Marine Drive.” Ross Taylor, a North Vancouver District conimu- nity planner, said the necessary zoning changes will likely come to a pullic hearing in May. He said no othe: projects are planned nearby, but that the district hoy-:s the new consiruction will act as 2n area catalyst. “We're hoping this will set the tone for the revi- Friday, March 31, 2000 - Nerth Shore Mews - 3 NEWS photo Julie iverzon LIONS Gate Neighbourhood Association vice-president Valerie Moller says plan for Avaion Hote! site “... could set a precedent for improving the Marine Drive corridor.” Ankenman said construction could start as early as June, with Chapters taking possession in January 2001, and opening to the public by spring. The restaurant and brew pub would be operated by Mark James, who purchased the Avalon Hotel property last Juae, after the previous owner made an unsuccessful attempt to build condominiums on the site. The restaurant would seat 226 people; the brew pub wouid seat 120. The pub will have a patio open- ing out the back, in the southwest corner of the property. Mark James said Chapters has already signed a lease, and his company is building to suit. In addition to the Mark James clothing store or Broadway, James also owns several brew pubs and restaurants throughout the Lower Mainland, includ- ing the Yaletown Brewing Company and the Brew House in Whistler. No one from Chapters attended Tuesday night's meeting. Most questions fram residents centred on the desire to visit the new businesses, with concerns about vehicle access from Marine Drive and brewing process. talization of Marine Urive,” Taylor said. ws i. ai NEWS phote Mike Wakefinid OUT of the classroom but keeping busy: Breanna Buchholtz, a Grade 6 student at Lynn Valley elementary school, talks to friends while playing an the computer. Strike stalis charity fundraiser WHEELCHAIR athlete Hossein “Nik” Nikzaban’s attempt to set a world record for distance covered within 24 hours by a person using a wheelchair has been postponed due to the CUPE strike within the North Vancouver school district. The marathon was onginally scheduled to occur at Handsworth secondary school on March 30 and 31. The event has been resched- uled to Thursday, April 6, and Friday, April 7, beginning and ending at 2 p.m. If the CUPE strike has not ended by Apni 6, the marathon will be further delayed. Nikzaban’s goal is to raise $15,000 for the North Shore Disability Resource Centre (NSDRC) to help over 200 children and adults with disabilities on the North Shore while pro- moting his philosophy of self-belief. He has been preparing himself physically and mentally for the past six months. To make an individual or corporate donation call 985-5371. People can also cheer Nikzaban on at the Handsworth marathon attempt site. installing a new bus stop. Students ijoaded with homewssk From page § legislation to be passed. A recent News survey suggested that 94% of North Shore residents felt education should be declared an essential service. Cowan said teachers would be helping students catch up on missed school work once the strike is over. “Teachers are cer- tainly very conscious of the fact that older high school students in particular have provincial exams coming up,” said Cowan. He said some teachers had sent extra work home with stu- dents before the strike, but to continue to do so would under- mine CUPE’s position. “They support us when we’re on strike, and we support them when they’re on strike,” he said. West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Jeremy Dalton said he had already received calls from parents wondering if they might be able to teach students themselves on school grounds, in the absence of regular teaching staff. Meanwhile Premier Ujjal Dosanjh stepped into the fray on Tuesday, appointing two official negotiators — Irene Hoiden and Vince Ready — to talk to both CUPE locals and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association and find 2 resolution to the dispute by tomorrow. Holden helped broker a deal in the recent Vancouver Shipyards labour dispute. Dosanjh has said he'd like to see students back in school by Monday. Job security, benefits, and staffing levels are key issues in the dispute for CUPE members B.C.-wide. Negotiations on local issues have been taking place with individual school boards. To press time, local and regional CUPE representatives did not return News calls. A news release issued by CUPE’s region- al office on Wednesday stated chat the organization would be adhering to a news blackout until the release of recommenda- tiens from Holden and Ready. In a final statement, CUPE national representative Gary Johnson said $500,000 in negotiation funds promised to CUPE in January by then-education minister Gordon Wilson had never been transferred to the union. He said that so far CUPE bar- gaining efforts have been funded by union members. Cops turn up heat on pot Katharine Hamer News Reporter khamer@nsnews.com IE you think the leafy gardens of West Vancouver are safe from the evils of drugs, think again. Since the start of the year, West Vancouver Police have uncovered a record 15 mari- juana grow operations and hundreds of plants worth hundreds of thousands of dollzes. They've also seized hydroponic equipment, hooked up in some cases to highly unstable electrical sources. Homeowners renting their basements or suites out to dope-growing tenants could see their house going up in smoke at any time. Wese Vancouver Police Sgt. Jim Almas believes the increase in police finding grow operations can be attributed in part to neigh- bourhood awareness. Police are trying to increase that awareness among landlords, property managers, real estate agents and home ins ectors. Following the success of a similar event staged by Port Moody police fast month, West Vancouver Police are hosting an evening informa- ton workshop on the issue April 11. Hosted by Almas, the evening will also feature speakers from the insurance industry and BC Hydro, plus the head of WVPD’s detec- tive division, Staff Sgt. Doug Bruce. Workshop inchide: @ screening potential ten- ants; & sporting marijuana grow labs and methamphetamine grow labs; @ rights and limitations gov- erning landlord inspections of property; @ liabilities associated with the damage of property from grow operations. A video demonstrating some of the damage caused topics will See Workshop page § Spring ahead SPRING ahead at 2 a.m. Sunday. That’s when daylight sav- ing time begins. So, prior co bedtime, set your clocks ahead one hour. Standard time returns Oct. 29.