Civic politicians have agreed to give the owner of one of Delta's oldest buildings more financial incentive to preserve the structure, but not to the extent she was hoping.
Delta council discussed a request earlier this month from the owner of the former McCrae Pool Hall in Ladner Village, a site that has a colourful history. The building at 4880 Delta St. sits on a property that currently has an empty lot next door.
Council had already given preliminary approval for a heritage revitalization agreement bylaw that would permit a subdivision of the property into two lots. The agreement involves restoration of the heritage building and construction of a new building on the empty lot.
Both buildings are proposed to be mixed-use, with commercial on the ground floor and residential units above.
At the time, council supported a series of heritage incentives to the tune of $55,600 as well as varying the parking requirements.
The owner has since requested more in the way of relief. Although the owner has the funds available to cover the servicing fees and development cost charges, according to a report to council, additional heritage incentives were requested so the money could be used for the restoration of the McCrea Pool Hall.
Staff only recommended that a heritage restoration security be reduced from $97,000 to $85,000 as well as extending third reading of the bylaw until next April.
In a letter to council, owner Linda Park wrote, "In our original presentation at the public hearing last year we mentioned the Ladner waterfront. Since then, there has been talk about the need for incentives to attract developers to Delta. We would like to tell council that we do feel it is important to develop the Ladner Village, but that there is also a need in Delta to support and provide incentive for our heritage buildings, as well as developers looking to make money."
She also said, "We are losing far too many heritage buildings in Delta. Lately there has been comments in our local newspapers from some council members regarding the loss of our heritage buildings and the need for incentives.
We would like to remind council that staff has done research and that we have been asking for several years for Delta to implement a heritage incentive policy to help save these buildings."
The loss of heritage buildings has been in the spotlight as of late with an old farm home on Ladner Trunk Road recently demolished and another down the street also facing the wrecking ball.
Coun. Heather King said the heritage commission, which she vice-chairs, goes through "great pain and anguish" every time it's presented with another demolition application, which is why she supports doing whatever the municipality can as far as offering incentives for property owners.
Community planning director Tom Leathem, noting the subdivision is already going to provide a financial benefit for the building's owner, suggested council deal with each application on a caseby-case basis rather than reopening and changing bylaws at this time.
As far as the old pool hall, a report on the building notes it's is one of the few remaining original commercial buildings in Ladner and is located on a block with Delta's second municipal hall and within a few feet of two other significant buildings from the same period. Together these buildings established the character of the original core, and to a great extent, the character of the core today.
Built in 1913, the pool hall was acquired by Park in 2002.
Late columnist Edgar Dunning often wrote that when he started working for the Optimist, the local politicians often enjoyed a few drinks at the pool hall prior to their regular Saturday afternoon meetings. He joked those meetings inevitably became lively affairs.
