ATHABASCA – How can the intrinsic value of a historic building on a high traffic corner in Athabasca be salvaged, when it has become little more than a squatting ground for those who have nowhere else to go?
Athabasca town council is seeking a meeting with the owner of the problem-plagued Grand Union Hotel at the corner of 50th Street and 50th Avenue, which has been shut down since last fall. The once thriving bar, restaurant and hotel has become an infamous haunt for transient and unhoused people in the last few years, and a frequent topic of conversation when residents and officials discuss crime in the area.
With no staff or management now on site, it is quickly becoming even more of an eyesore than many thought it to be when it was open.
Coun. Ida Edwards brought the topic to the Athabasca town council table briefly March 1 before it became too precarious to continue discussing publicly due to the financial and business considerations involved, which is protected under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act, and so qualified for closed discussion.
“I'm so concerned in terms of economic development and tourism, that this facility has a swinging, gaping window open, and that there's cracked window, and there's boards on the exterior,” Edwards said. “I know we’ve discussed this ad nauseam, but what are the chances of meeting with the owner of this building as a council to discuss this with him?”
Coun. Jon LeMessurier was in total agreement, saying he has first-hand information that people are still staying in the all-but-abandoned building.
“I'm worried about the safety risk of that so I think that's a great idea to try and meet with the owner and see if we can get some form of a solution,” he said. “And I also agree that it's just been such an eyesore and there's so much traffic that goes through the community and this needs to be dealt with.”
Edwards went on to express concerns for business owners in the community, pointing out there is a busy gas station located just across the alley from the Grand Union, and a fire emergency at the building could become a very dangerous situation.
“I'm super concerned. I don't want to see another fire,” she said. “And I also feel like that when you talk about people staying there, there are health risks. I have called the police after seeing people go into the side window … so I'm very much bothered, and I would like to talk to the owner as a council and address this.”
In the early morning of Feb. 17, Town of Athabasca fire crews responded to a 911 call of smoke coming from the downtown landmark. Details were scant at the time, but the Advocate has since confirmed at least two individuals were present on one of the upper floors where the fire occurred and were using some sort of heating device at the time.
Coun. Edie Yuill also inquired as to the historical designation of the building, but it was unclear if it was considered historically significant by the municipality or the province.
Council approved a motion to have administration reach out to the owner as soon as possible to arrange an in-camera meeting.
“Because it's a landmark in our community, of course, everyone's concerned, and no one wants to see it deteriorate to the point of no return. Unfortunately, until someone else is in control, our hands are tied,” said mayor Rob Balay.
