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| Thursday, December 17, 2015
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Wrecking Ball for 103 Year Old School
Work begins on new rec centre here By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star
KURT LANGMANN PHOTO
The original 1912 two-storey Aldergrove Elementary school building came under the wrecking ball on Tuesday morning.
The original 1912 two-storey Aldergrove Elementary school building came under the wrecking ball on Tuesday morning. The building had been a landmark and a heritage site, however, the estimated $2 million cost of removing asbestos and bringing it up to current building code brought about the Township’s decision to demolish it instead. MWL Demolition made quick work of tearing down the gymnasium and annex buildings at the Aldergrove Elementary school site, Monday. Demolition debris is being stacked in piles for recycling or disposal. Contractors with heavy equipment are ripping apart the old buildings to make way for the Aldergrove Recreation Centre planned for the former school site. Langley Township purchased the property several years ago from Langley School District with the intention of constructing a new community centre here. Initial plans had included the heritage building in the new rec centre but the costs were prohibitive and council decided to put those funds into the rec centre construction instead.
Foundations for outdoor pool roof approved Aldergrove Star
Township council has approved changes to the new Aldergrove pool that will allow construction of a canopy cover in the future and, eventually, walls, to make it a true indoor pool. The Monday vote approved spending an extra $280,000 to install “footings and structural enhancements” that would serve as the foundation for a canopy roof over the pool. Council postponed a decision on actually building the canopy, which would cost another $1.6 million. Coun. Bob Long proposed proceeding with the preliminary foundation work immediately, calling it a “prudent” move that makes it easier
to add a roof in the future. Coun. Charlie Fox was the only member present who voted against the proposal, saying it was because he would have preferred to see the canopy approved “right now.” The change will mean less space for the playground and water park proposed next to the new new centre at 27032 Fraser Hwy. To completely enclose the pool would add more than $7 million to the $26 million estimated cost of construction, a staff report to council estimates. The decision comes after Joanne Nicolato of the Aldergrove Recreation and Pool society told a November council meeting that supporters of an indoor pool are so disappointed with the decision to
Image shows what covered Aldergrove pool (on right) would look like. build an outdoor pool that they were ments, Nicolato said. unwilling to fundraise to support the “Covered is not indoor.” project. Nicolato called on council to “If it’s not going to be indoors, make the final building and pool people are not going to help at all,” design public, “so the public can see Nicolato said. exactly what facilities, or lack of, is There was concern that the being provided to the community.” Township could just put a roof over The Township trimmed the estithe pool and leave it open to the ele- mated cost of the new rec centre from
$55 million to $26 million by opting for an outdoor pool and demolishing the Aldergrove Elementary School. The new Township facility will feature a 550-seat hockey arena and events space, fitness centre, walking surface, multi-purpose rooms, and an outdoor aquatic facility with a six-lane, 25-metre pool, waterslides, tidal pool, current channel, children’s aqua structure, picnic areas and playground. The reduced cost means the Township will not have to hike taxes or seek approval for any more potentially-controversial sales of surplus land to raise the necessary money. The pool and water park are scheduled to open in May, 2018, followed a few months later by the arena.
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By DAN FERGUSON