Vancouver City Council |
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: September 2, 2004
Author/Local: Laurie Bachynski /7125RTS No. 4486
CC File No. 5102
Meeting Date: September 14, 2004
TO:
Vancouver City Council
FROM:
Director of Real Estate Services
SUBJECT:
Demolition of vacant City-owned buildings located at 301 West 1st Avenue (Cambie Works Yard)
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve the demolition of the vacant buildings at 301 West 1st Avenue (Cambie Works Yard), legally described as Lot 1, Except Part in Explanatory Plan 16373, Now Road Block 1, District Lot 302, Plan 5832; Lots 2 to 11, Block 1, District Lot 302, Plan 5832 and Lot 55 Except Plan BCP5395, District Lot 2064, Group 1, NWD, Plan 5568, with the cost of demolition estimated to be $230,000, plus cost of removal of any hazardous materials. Testing for hazardous materials is presently under way, therefore the cost of its removal cannot be estimated at this time. The source of funding for the demolition and possible removal of hazardous materials to be the Property Endowment Fund.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Corporate Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no applicable Council policy.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council authority to demolish all buildings and remove any hazardous materials at the former Cambie Works Yard site with the exception of the Saw-Tooth Building, which is being retained as a heritage building.
BACKGROUND
Since at least the 1930's, the City has used the 301 West 1st Avenue as an Engineering Works Yard (Cambie Works Yard). For the past 20 years, the southwestern corner of the yard has been fenced off for exclusive use by the Vancouver Police Department for the Dog Squad, additional parking and storage of equipment.
CURRENT SITUATION
All but one building (the Precast Building) at the Cambie Works Yard were vacated upon the completion of the National Works Yard. The Precast Building will be vacated by the end of December 2004.
With the rest of the yard vacated, and the 24-hour security personnel removed from the entrance gate, security has become a concern, particularly during the evenings and weekends. The police department has expressed concerns about the security of their kennels, vehicles and other equipment. In addition, the lands are slated for soils remediation and soils storage during construction of the RAV line. As a result, it is recommended that the vacant buildings, with the exception of the Saw-Tooth Building which is to be retained because of its heritage value - be demolished.
CONCLUSION
To secure the site, the Director of Real Estate Services recommends that the buildings, excluding the Saw-Tooth Building, be demolished at an estimated cost of $230,000, plus cost of removal of any hazardous materials. Testing for hazardous materials is presently underway, therefore the cost of its removal cannot be estimated at this time. As the buildings are currently held in the Property Endowment Fund, it is appropriate the costs of demolition and possible hazardous material removal be charged there, with recovery to be achieved through the eventual redevelopment of the site.
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