Dear Editor:
They say New Westminster has the potential to be Vancouver's Brooklyn. And New West is getting there, what with Steel & Oak Brewing Co., Brick & Mortar home decor, Zhoosh Fitness Garage and many other fledgling businesses revitalizing the downtown historic Columbia strip and neighbourhood.
But, when I head down 12th Street and pass by the old New Westminster Gas Company building, I'm saddened to see that this historic brick building (building in 1886) is literally crumbling away. It seems to have so much potential to become a hip and unique heritage building. It is large and could potentially house more than one business. Why does it continue to sit in decay and derelict?
Meanwhile, in the younger Vancouver Fraserhood community, a couple of entrepreneurial foodies renovated a decrepit old dive at 3958 Fraser Street. It took them a year, but they restored a 100-year-old building, keeping the great exterior features and opening up the interior space for a small café on one side and bakery/epicierie on the other.
Maybe there is hope that the old New Westminster Gas Company building will be restored before it's too late. The 12th Street community certainly could benefit from the restoration. According to Coun. Jaimie McEvoy's report of 2007, some years ago the province offered the building to the city for the price of $1. Is there any new information from the city regarding this heritage site?
Colleen Holub, New Westminster
