MIDDLE SCHOOL WON’T BE ROBSON
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END THIS BLOODY B.C. SCHOOL WAR
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MAILBOX THIEVES SOUGHT
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WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 5 2014 www.newwestnewsleader.com
Queen’s Park was the site of some real Storm action on Saturday. See Page A15
Twin towers eyed for Quay Bosa plans 26-storey high rises next to hotel Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
SHANE MACKICHAN/CONTRIBUTED
A catastrophic fire destroyed a three-storey building at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Ash Street early Friday morning. Luckily, there were no fatalities.
Blaze sparks call for sprinklers Advocacy groups says city should require installation in all apartment buildings Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
Mandatory sprinkler system installation in New Westminster’s ubiquitous older three-storey apartment blocks has been called for following a ferocious fire last Friday morning. The blaze broke out about 1:30 a.m. at a building on the northwest corner of Ash Street and Fourth
Avenue. As New Westminster, another 24 hours Monday. Social Burnaby and Delta firefighters service agencies will work with fought the fire the building burned the individual residents to find brightly for several hours them longer-term housing. through the night until the More than 100 residents of sun rose and all that was left three nearby buildings were was smoke, smouldering walls temporarily evacuated as a and fallen balconies. precaution. It left 36 residents of A complete fire and police the building’s 31 units site investigation Saturday PUCHMAYR did not determine a cause, homeless—at least temporarily—and with said city spokesman Blair very few possessions. The province Fryer. “There’s no initial indication initially provided the residents it was purposely caused or with temporary housing for 72 otherwise.” hours, and then extended that for However, the speed at which it
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spread raised concern about the buildings, and many more like it in the city, not being required to have sprinkler systems because the apartment blocks were built before the codes required them. The only time sprinkler installation becomes required is when a building undergoes a major renovation. Noel Ouellette, co-chair of the New West chapter of the lowincome advocacy organization ACORN Canada, believes the fire highlights the need for sprinklers in all of the city’s buildings.
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Twin 26-storey towers atop a sevenstorey podium with nearly 600 residential units is being proposed for the parking lot in front of the Inn at the Quay. According to a report to council on Monday, Bosa Properties’ proposal for 1000 Quayside Drive includes 368 one-bedroom units ranging from 526 to 646 sq. ft., and 220 two-bedrooms 758 to 857 sq. ft. The project would also have commercial space at grade along with 48 units of rental housing. Bosa is proposing to provide 611 parking spaces, including 80 for the River Market, although current requirements call for provision of 974 spots. Initial plans call for only one parking floor below ground with six storeys above. Some of the parkade will be hidden by rental units, townhouses or commercial space, the report states. Please see CLOSER, A3