FortisBC Administration building set to be demolished in fall
By Nelson Daily Staff
It appears decisions regarding the 80-plus year-old FortisBC Administration building at South Slocan will be made the upcoming months said Nicole Bogdanovic Corporate Communications Advisor for the power & gas company.
Bogdanovic said the current administration building, which houses Generation staff next to the Kootenay River at South Slocan, will be vacated once the new Kootenay Operations Centre (KOC) opens in the fall.
The move means the company will begin the demolition process of the building, designed in the late 1920s.
“Over the past several months, we’ve worked closely with local members of the community to determine a possible viable option to preserve these buildings over the long-term,” Bogdanovic explained.
“Due to the significant cost associated with the renovation and upkeep necessary to operate these buildings safely, we were unable to find a group willing to take on this responsibility.”
The electric power and gas distribution-retail giant is in the process of moving operations from South Slocan to a new $20-plus million centralized Kootenay Operations Centre near Castlegar.
Despite the administration building heading for the scrap yard, Bogdanovic said South Slocan site will continue to play an important role in our future.
“The garage and shop buildings will undergo minor renovations and will remain to support our Generation field crews,” she said.
“Once vacant, FortisBC will need to take action on the administration office and warehouse buildings so that we can continue to operate safely from the site.”
The decision does not sit to well with enthusiasts interested in preserving, not destroying, heritage landmarks.
“I’m disappointed, but not surprised,” said Greg Nesteroff of the Friends of South Slocan Staff house group trying to find a way to keep the building intact.
“I’m grateful to FortisBC for providing an opportunity for the community to come up with ways to save the buildings, but the many hurdles were just too great to overcome.”
The three-story administration building that sits on the banks of the Kootenay River near the FortisBC South Slocan generation plant, was built to accommodate staff employed on construction of West Kootenay Power’s dam.
The facility was later transformed into a guest house before being used for as an office building in 1986.
“It’s sad that these buildings will come down, since they are part of our region’s industrial heritage,” Nesteroff said.
“I expect we (as in the Friends of South Slocan Staff house) will now focus our energies on saving Creel Lodge.”
Bogdanovic said FortisBC appreciates the interest some members of the community have shown in preserving these buildings and says the company will continue to allow public access to the green space and gardens on the property.
“We ask for the community’s patience and understanding as we work through plans to safely remove and dispose of these buildings,” Bogdanovic said.
