Naoibh O'Connor
One of the school district's oldest school buildings could be knocked down unless the community it once served can find a way to save it.
The building is one of four structures on the Sir Guy Carleton school site at the corner of Kingsway and Joyce. It's at risk of demolition because it was damaged by arson two years ago.
The two-classroom yellow wood-frame out-building is more than a century old. The Vancouver School Board's efforts to obtain money from the provincial government to fix it have failed.
The board initially asked the Ministry of Education to cover the estimated $625,000 in repair costs, but was turned down after the ministry concluded the district didn't need the space.
A second request proposed it be used as an early learning centre, which also required the repair costs, but the ministry also denied that appeal.
Last week, staff recommended the board seek approval from the province to demolish it, but the decision is being deferred to give the neighbourhoods surrounding the building time to find a way to preserve it.
"We've really hit the wall in terms of what we can do with our funding," said board chair Patti Bacchus. "We're hoping if there's some will in the community we could find a compatible use--childcare, early learning, some kind of use that would work."
The building, which is covered by blue tarps, has been left vacant and has deteriorated over the past two years.
The temporary rain tarps do not prevent moisture from entering the building. Moisture is causing decay and damage to the building, according to a staff report, which estimates roof tarps and security fencing at the site cost up to $30,000 a year.
Annual operating costs, including custodial services and energy use, are pegged at about $8,200.
The report recommends demolition to mitigate hazards and district liability. The estimated cost to knock it down, remove the foundation and reinstate landscaping is $75,000, which would be funded by the ministry.
Bacchus hopes the community where the school is located can raise money to preserve the heritage site.
"It was built in 1896. It may be the earliest school structure in the city, so although the recommendation was to proceed with demolition, we deferred that to allow the community some time," Bacchus said.
The board will not undertake a formal consultation because its focused on budget deliberations, which could lead to school closures in that neighbourhood and other neighbourhoods in the city.
Bacchus said if the building were to be demolished, it would be preferable to do it over the summer when students aren't in class.
"But given that it's sat there for two years like this I don't want to suddenly rush to take it down," she added.
Heritage advocate Don Luxton is concerned about the fate of the building, but is encouraged the school board is willing to let the community get involved. He called a vacant building a threatened building because the longer it remains vacant the more expensive it is to fix.
"We're extremely worried about it because they are going to talk until it falls down even if they don't knock it down," he said.
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