4 - Wednesday, September 29, 1999 -- North Shore News Hamersiey future we North Van City considers options for rundown heritage house Catherine Barr Contributing Writer NORTH Vancouver’s dilapidated Hamersley House may be in for some major changes. On Monday night, city council approved a motion that would sce staffi investigate a reconfiguration and in-fill develop- ment plan for the East 2nd Street heritage landmark site. If approved, the 10,168 sq. ft. (945 sq. m), four-level house could soon be turned into a bed and breakfast and/or a resi- dential condominium complex. Based on a Sept. 21 staff report, three Hamersley House options are being considered: @ Turn the site into a two-level guest house or heritage inn; estimated cost: $723,000. B@ Convert the house inte a public-use facility such as a day care; estimated cost: $615,000. & Convert the house to residential; estimated cost: $614,000. An in-fill townhouse complex is also being considered for the north and northwest portion of the property — so regardless of which option is chosen, the existing parking lot and the site’s north yard area could be sold to a developer. This option, how- ever, is not being recommended. Either way, Emerald Park (which lies adjacent to the existing house) will be retained and dedicated to the city as opea space. Built in 1904, and sold to the city in 1974 as part of a land exchange, Hamersley House was converted to a restaurant in Bus driver attempts to block NV robbers A Coast Mountain Bus Link driver is being cred- ited with foiling thieves on Tuesday after a stolen car was driven into the Shoppers Drug Mart store at Lynn Valley Centre. The transit operator a 55-year-old North Vancouver resi- dent, did not wish to be named or comment about the inci- dent. He has been driving buses for 27 years and works out of the North Vancouver depot. According to the North Vancouver RCMP, the bus driver was travelling with passengers on Lynn Valley Road at 6:30 am. Police say a person waiting for a bus in front of the McDonald’s restaurant saw a car across the street backing into the drug store. The : person motioned to the people in the bus to look in the store’s direction. Police say the bus driver saw what was happening, put the bus in reverse, and drove into the mall parking lot. The bus dri- ver used the bus to block off the rammed car. Three men, who were in the stolen car, ran away. One was jater caught by a police dog. The apprehended man is a North Vancouver resident with 2 Ristory of previous run-ins with the _ police. His name was not released. Police continue to investigate. —Anna Marie D’Angelo 7 M CLASS LEASE SPECIAL $399 o: S47, 290 ~~ Value Priced Priced Based on a 1999 ML320 Classic, 5.5% ‘lease rates. 36 month, low mileage walk- away with $8,500 down or trade. Taxes, PDI, freight and license extra. Optional buy back $30,432.00 0.A.C. Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. 1375 Marine Dr. 286.2351 North Vancouver "www. vancouver. mercédes-benz. ca 1981. Since then, it has housed three leaseholders, all of whom have failed to turn the location into a profitable business. Abandoned in August 1997, Hamersley House has contin- ned to deteriorate. Today, it remains boarded up for safety rea- sons. The property needs an estimated $1 million in renova- tions. City councillors must now decide whether to restore the building or reconfigure and renovate it for a new use. According to council discussion, a number of creative fund- ing options exist. And while the details of the options haven’t been disclosed, council has decided that it should seck a num- ber of requests for proposals from the private sector. “I'm an optimist,” said Coun. Stella Jo Dean. “P’'m hoping someone will come along (and save ir). It’s heritage. It’s histe- ry.” Dean said she was against using the facility for another com- mercial venture and wants to see the building retained for pub- lic use only. But Coun. Darrell Mussatto disagreed. He said the site would be perfect for a bed and breakfast and/or residential facility. “Having a sensitive density in-fill is a goed idea,” he said. All councillors agreed that the city should maintain control and ownership of the heritage house and property. Meanwhile, city staff have been instructed to bring back a detailed report on the recontiguration and the subsequent fund- ing options. The Heritage Advisory Commission will also be asked for its comments. | Sweet Crispy |Local New Crop. AD: SAVE 2% 7 On Drape: Upholstery Danas. 10: Za LEVOLOR Plus receive an additional = «"¢ . 10% off on orders of 5 or more. gE Offers expires October 31/99 ‘Snap Top n [Carrots A 4