SUNDAY December 29, 1996 ds af rain ur snow he’ Cy low -2°C. Seasons Greetings “** and a Prosperous New Year from alt the Staff at Midland Watwyn West Vancouver office: 925-9210 EH OLA Chae Tretia apa ema ot TRIAS Rha yt Contal ing Wenber - CONRAN eemint Prmecnet FUOD g held on heritage buildings By Deana Lancaster Contributing Writer BUSINESS owners and customers who bemoaned the loss of a heritage Duilding in Lower Lonsdale must have been busy Christmas shopping. They certainly didn’t make it to the public hearing for the her- itage revitalization bylaw, held Dee. 16 in North Vancouver City council chambers. The hearing was held so coun- cil could receive presentations and comments from anyone involved or interested in the development. If the bylaw is adopted, the project will see the restoration of the Syndicate Block, the first commercial office block in North Vancouver, built in 1903 at the corner of — Lonsdale — and Esplanade. The plans also include the demolition of the Ellwood Block (a building considered to be of secondary heritage impor- tance) to make way for 31 condo- miniums as well as new strect- level retail units. Prior to the hearing, the News asked business owners, residents and shoppers in the area how they felt about the new development. Many expressed dismay over the loss of the Ellwood block which faces Esplanade and was built in 1908. But at the crowded hearing, only Charles Pope, who owns Mountainside Vitamins at 57 Lonsdale, stood up to speak. Calling the building his busi- ness is housed in an “ey told council: “I feel the de ment will be very good for the area.” Later, he said that complain- NEWS photo Paul McGrath Chilling thrills GOUG Shaw hangs on to Stephanie Norris while shark girl Janice Bailey and penguin boy Scott Russell fight over the pair. The n Plunge takes place 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 1 at Deep Cove’s Panorama Park. Participants take to the water at 2 p.m. Call 987-PLAY for more information. Leak su WV homeowner claims plastic plumbing fauity By lan Noble News Reporter A West Vancouver man who says a resin defect led to water damage in his home has filed suit under : suitable for use in domestic and commercial wacer systems and would last the normal lifetime of the building they were installed in. Furlan said that as a result of such claims, he installed the system at his Skilift Place home in 1988. But he said the system leaks, allows gas to ¢ : sorrosion to internal parts of the urlan points to the resin as the cul- s problems and added the companies known the system was defective and it would fail. The companies, said Furlan, intentional- an intolerance for chlorine, ng to | damaye. The Greater Vancouver Regional disintects water with chlorine. “There's no question there are significant prob- lems that have been addressed in the United States and it is our contention the same problems i ing about the higher cost of doing business in the new build- ing was “biting the hand that feeds you,” since a demolition clause o9 the existing buildings has meant low rent for business owners. He plans to buy space for his shop in the new development. “Tell sure be nice to be ina place that doesn’t leak and has reHable heating.” he said. Counc passed dhe third read ing of the byw, the Class Proceedings Act against three large multinational firms. {na similar class-action: suit launched in’ the United States, nwo of the three compani¢s agreed to a US$950- million settlement. n Michel Furlan filed a statement of claim in B.C. Supreme Court Dec. 18, saving a resin devel oped for a plastic plumbing system is faulty. The resin was developed by Shell On of Du Pont de Nemours and and: Hoechst Jersey, According to the claim, the three detendants said their pov bur fene plumbing wetent and the resin Housten, Pexasy ET Company ot Wimington, Delawa Year In Review: the news stories ‘that shaped 1996 news 93 ly concealed such intormatuon from him, He wants daniages for: i ntation; fraudulent misrepresentation; B breach of warranty; ve damages cxcmnpliry damages; Mioterest and costs. In November 1995, Hoechst Celanese and Shell agreed) fo sweeten a settlement: offer of USSS850 million to L O million to help consumers cope financially with problems caused by the polybury iene system. North Shore weddings 8 anniversariés celebrations 915 Canada,” said Furlan’s lawyer, Jim Poyner. Poyner said he has started a ¢ action suit because he knows of others having similar problems with the plumbing system. However, the applica- tion for certification of the action as a class action has yet to be approved. Povner is not sure when a certification d mn will be made. Povner said Furlan’s water system: will need to be replaced and he estimates the damage conservatively at $30,000, Povner added the plumbing product has been used ely in Canada tor at teast 15 years, litigation has nor commenced (in Canada) before is bevond me," he said. Shell and Du Pont did not retura phone calls betore deadline Friday.