qathet Regional District’s board of directors will consider a recommendation that the old Lund fire hall is not suitable for the Lund Community Society’s purposes.
At the June 16 committee of the whole meeting, directors reviewed a staff report that outlined an engineering study that had been conducted on the old fire hall on Larson Road. At the February 24 regional board meeting, staff members were directed to conduct a building assessment of the hall to inform on the safety and integrity of the structure, and that staff be directed to engage with the Lund community on the future of the building and return to the board with recommendations.
Electoral Area A director and board chair Patrick Brabazon said the news would be a disappointment to a lot of people up in Lund, but reading the engineering report, he thinks the building should be condemned.
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said he was sad to read the report.
“It doesn’t make anyone happy, but it seems like there is some salvage potential from the building,” said Fall. “It’s unfortunate, but hopefully, something can be salvaged. It seems like not even the foundation is that great for something so maybe something better or more suitable could be produced for cheaper.
“Learning now is better than sinking in money and getting stuck in a situation where you are going to pay more for something not as good as new."
Electoral Area D director and committee chair Sandy McCormick asked what will happen to the old building.
Manager of operational services Patrick Devereaux said a report will be coming shortly to the regional board’s committee of the whole, in either July or August, with recommendations for the future of the old fire hall.
Devereaux, in his report to directors, quoted the engineer’s report, which stated: “It is highly likely that the cost to properly repurpose the building will exceed the cost of a new building of similar size.”
Devereaux stated that the report is not favourable to the repurposing of the structure.
“The building was not built to code, the structure does not have the proper spacing for wood frame construction, is not cross-braced and the footings lack reinforcing, added Devereaux. “The structure is not built to resist wind or earthquake lateral loads.”
Devereaux’s report further stated that the engineering study indicated materials in the construction, such as lumber and roofing, may be salvageable.
The committee referred the matter to the regional board meeting for a decision.
