There are more concerns about the safety of The Boot site this
week after Councillor Ralph Forsyth watched people snowboarding off the roof.
He joked at Monday’s meeting that he was deeply conflicted
because it looked like a lot of fun but posed the serious question: has
anything been done to secure the site?
Cressey Developments closed down the site in April, marking the
end of the iconic Boot Pub and the cheapest digs in town, the Shoestring Lodge.
In November RCMP confirmed that people were squatting in the
building, which was also found to have asbestos residue.
Municipal planner Bob MacPherson, in response to Councillor
Forsyth’s concerns, said they have put Cressey on notice to secure the site. If
the company doesn’t do so, the municipality will take the necessary steps and
charge the company accordingly.
Cressey development manager David Evans said the asbestos
removal was slated for Wednesday, Jan. 10 and fencing would be erected around
the building late this week to early next week. The demolition will begin after
the fencing is up.
The site, located just north of the village, will be a mixture
of market and employee housing.
Athletes’ village on track
Ahead of schedule and under budget — that’s something you
don’t hear very often about a development project in Whistler.
But the $130 million athletes’ village for the 2010 Games is
exceeding its targets.
In a brief update to council Monday night Mayor Ken Melamed
said the project, which is in its very early stages, is half a million dollars
under budget so far.
They’re ahead of schedule too. Crews were able to get to work
crushing additional materials, originally scheduled for 2007, which will be
used for road grading this summer.
Meanwhile work continues on refining the site plan for the
village, which will be transformed into a legacy neighbourhood of employee
housing after the Games.
“It’s going to be a spectacular neighbourhood,” said the mayor.
Mayor heads to Sweden
Whistler’s Mayor Ken Melamed has been invited to Sweden to
participate in the Sustainability Leadership Challenge.
Seventy leaders from around the world will be participating in
the event including King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
Sweden is the birthplace of The Natural Step, which was founded
in 1989 by Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert. Whistler adopted The Natural Step, which is
a science-based framework to help move the community towards sustainability,
several years ago.
“I’m very honoured to be going,” said Melamed.
The mayor leaves on Sunday for one week. In his absence Councillor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden will be Acting Mayor.
