cee, ee im : penance iva July 12, 1992 44 pages Lower Lonsdale site could be home of new dance club THEY ONCE built ships there. But if a North Vancouver businessman has his way, teenagers will soon be dancing the night away at the former Versatile Pacific Shipyard Inc. (VPSI) site at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver City. Bruce Winckler and partner James {slaub of Sanctuary In- vestments Ltd. want to turn part of the ofd VPSI site, now called Yarrows Ltd., into an alcohol- free nightclub for teens. Winckler said he and Islaub have been given a lease on a va- cant building formerly owned by VPSI. The building is on Lonsdale Avenuc between Esplanade Avenue and a parking lot next to the Seven Seas floating restaurant. The pair will appear before North Vancouver City council on Monday night to ask for a business licence and a tem- porary-use permit. The site is currently zoned in- dustrial. This is not the first time Win- ckler has tried to convince city council to allow him to open a teen nightclub. His first proposal was rejected by council one year ago when he planned a facility for 730 Marine Drive. At that time local merchants raised concerns about parking and vandalism and they also said the nightclub would create an at- mosphere conducive to drug traf- ficking. But Winckler said he has gone back to the drawing board and added that his new Lower Lons- dale site is an ‘‘ideal’’ location for the teen nightclub. Such a facility is needed on the North Shore, he said. Winckler added that he has the support of neighboring businesses including the Seven Seas restau- rant. “It’s taken us a long time to find something suitable. We find there is not any reason to oppose this — it's a good location,” said Winckler. He added that the proposed nightclub would position four se- curity people outside the premises and three inside. There would also By Surj Ratian News Reporter be a video surveillance camera at the entrance to the nightclub. Winckler said that he is also willing to have the city review his business licence every six months. He added that he does not think there would be any problems be- tween the patrons of his nightclub, which would cater to the 15 to 18-year-old crowd, and the adult customers of the nearby Holidays nightclub on West Ist Street. “The regulations are that you have to be 500 feet from an alcohol establishment. We don't see any problems with Holidays because we'll have security peo- ple,”’ said Winckler. He added that he first thought about opening a teen nightclub when he used to live in West Van- couver and met a group of youths who frequented a tennis court next to his house. “T used to walk my dog by there and would talk to the youths and they said there was not any place for them to go. | asked them if there was a place for them to go where would they like to go and they said a youth club,’’ said Winckler. He added that his proposed nightclub would also be available to youth groups interested in fundraising events. When Winckler first proposed opening a teen nightclub on Marine Drive, North Vancouver City Coun. Rod Clark said ap- proving the nighclub would be “creating a powder keg.”’ This week Clark said he would first like to hear the recommenda- tions of city staff before making a decision on the current nightclub proposal. index Comics .. B High Profiles @ Horoscopes ..........-- 27 @ Inquiring Reporter @ Lifestyles. .......0..... 25 WTravel....... @ Vintage Years B What's Going On Weather Monday mostly cloudy, Tuesday mostly sunny. Lows 14°C, Highs 22°C. Second Class Registration Number 3885 SUNDAY C. Crenna assesses summer accessories Fashion: 16 Classifieds 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 NEWS photo Cindy Goodman Define your terms 11-YEAR-OLD Jason Luis cools off in the fountain outside North Vancouver City Hall on a hot afternoon. He and his friends obey the ‘‘no wading" sign by bringing their masks and diving for pennies - he’il let you know if he sees any waders.