(Image credit: CFJC Today/File photo).

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Shed no tears over demolition of the Northbridge (Village) Hotel

Jan 11, 2023 | 4:18 AM

OLD BUILDINGS get a raw deal in Kamloops. There’s just no respect for them.

The list of heritage homes and major buildings that have gone under the wrecker’s ball in favour of residential and commercial towers, and parking lots, is lengthy.

But not every old building deserves to be saved, and no tears will be shed when we see the last of the Northbridge Hotel — originally known as The Village Hotel when it was built in the 1950s or ‘60s, and more recently known to many simply as The Duchess after the peeler bar that operated there.

Over the years, The Village gradually deteriorated, though its beer parlour did a roaring business for a long while. At the end of its life, its 51 rooms were used mainly as housing for the homeless population and was often the source of criminal activity.

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In its current condition, the place is crap, so it’s understandable and even laudable that the City has decided to tear it down in advance of putting the property it sits on up for sale.

It has no redeeming architectural value and, though it holds many good memories for a lot of folks, the Tranquille Corridor will be better off without it.

There are questions that need to be answered about timing and cost. The City is vague on the timeline except that it will happen this year, probably soon.

Neither has it provided any idea on the cost of demolition, though we know it won’t be cheap. The Daily News building on Seymour Street cost more than $1 million to bulldoze a few years ago.

Taxpayers are already on the hook for $7.1 million to buy the Village property, though a significant part will be recouped from selling an adjacent lot for seniors housing.

Time will tell if taxpayers win or lose money-wise, but Kamloops will certainly win from the standpoint of reinvigorating an important part of the community.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops, former TNRD Director and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.