I was walking my dogs in Cloverdale this morning and saw 2 fellows up a scaffolding in front of the White Hotel on 176th Street and a 3rd man standing on the sidewalk. They were whitewashing the front of the building. One of the guys on the scaffolding dropped something and it crashed to the sidewalk. Then I heard him say he was going to throw down a hammer so I decided to play it safe and stop.
No, nothing else crashed down because he spotted me about then!
I did chat to the man on the ground and he said the building is owned by a friend of his who bought it from an older man not too long ago and they are renovating it. He said his friend is planning on selling it.
I managed to find out that there are 5 apartments in this building. Amazing because its not all that big. On the ground floor are the Sea Shanty restaurant and Danica's hair salon. I've been in the Sea Shanty a few times and I can walk in from the back parking lot and the restaurant extends all the way to the front of the street. I have never been in Danica's so I never really thought about it one way or another, just assumed it had a similar floor plan to the Sea Shanty. I guess not because the man said there is one apartment on the ground floor and 4 on the second floor. Those have to be tiny apartments. I'm pretty sure in the past when I noticed a for rent sign on the door that it said bachelor and one bedroom apartments.
So there's the scoop. Renovating it to put it up for sale. Interesting because it was supposedly renovated 2 years ago to attract a better quality of residents according to the sign that used to be on the door.
The man on the sidewalk must have been somewhat aware of the shady past because he called it a former crack house pit.
Oh well. Will be interesting to see what happens to it and if he has any success selling it.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Swimmers in Greenaway Pool! Sunday July 3 2011
Yes we finally saw swimmers in Greenaway Pool today!
It was around 1:30pm Sunday so if they were actually going by their posted hours this was a scheduled time for Greenaway to be open. There were 3 people.
Well it is a little cold today. The sun keeps darting in and out of the clouds and its windy.
Amazing I had my first sighting of someone in Greenaway Pool on a coolish day.
It was around 1:30pm Sunday so if they were actually going by their posted hours this was a scheduled time for Greenaway to be open. There were 3 people.
Well it is a little cold today. The sun keeps darting in and out of the clouds and its windy.
Amazing I had my first sighting of someone in Greenaway Pool on a coolish day.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Why Didn't You Empty My Garbage Can?
Garbage, recycling, and garden waste is picked up in Cloverdale on Fridays. Unless there is a stat holiday during the week and then its picked up one day later - on Saturday.
The company who has the Surrey contract for waste management is Emterra.
We live on a corner lot and have 2 driveways. I put my garbage can, recycle bin, and garden waste on one driveway and my tenant puts her garbage can and recycle bin on the other driveway. No need for garden waste on that driveway because I put all the garden waste on my driveway.
Yesterday - Friday July 1 - my tenant put her garbage and recycle out a day early. I called down to her and reminded her it was a stat and the garbagemen weren't picking up until Saturday. Oh well. At least she wasn't the only one in the neighborhood forgetting the stat and putting out a day ahead.
This morning - Saturday July 2 - I put my garbage can, my recycle bin, and 2 garden waste bins on my driveway which is a side street. No exit road, about 15 houses down there.
Our recycling is always picked up first, then the garbage, and usually the garden waste doesn't get picked up until later in the afternoon. They have odd routes. They seem to go down one side of the road collecting and then the other side, and they go off the side strees as they come to them.
When I came back from walking the dogs I saw the garbage truck. In fact they were blocking the roadway picking up the garbage from the house across the street. They had about 6 garbage bags and garbage cans. A little excessive. I believe each house is allowed 2. No matter. The garbageman took them all and then went down the side street.
We went out then and were gone for several hours. By the time I got home clearly the entire neighborhood's garbage and recycling were done but the garden waste hadn't picked up yet. I grabbed my empty garbage can and recycle box and put them away and then went to get my tentant's. To my surprise the garbage can was still full. What's going on? The can was at the curb where it always is and nothing obstructed it. The recycle box had been emptied.
So I looked up the city of Surrey's website because I know there's a number you can call if your waste hasn't been picked up.
Here's the web page with the information.
Basically it says to call their hotline 604-590-7289 to report the problem but its not open on stat holidays. To further aggravate the problem it says if you don't report the missed collection within 24 hours you might be out of luck for getting the garbage rescheduled.
OK. I might not be good at math but seeing as how today - Saturday - was the scheduled pick up day and the city is closed on Sunday I won't be able to report the problem until Monday which puts me outside the 24 hour range. To make matters worse after sticking around on the phone long enough and listening to all their menu options, there is no option to leave a message on the answering machine.
I was forced to take the other option at filling out their online form for complaints so I did that.
I got an auto responder back on my email saying the problem could take up to 10 days to resolve.
Hunh? This is our tax dollars at work! And by the way, speaking of taxes they are due at city hall on Monday July 4. A 10 day response period is unacceptable. I would think most companies or government agencies should strive for a 4 hour response time or at the most 24 hours. Unacceptable!
10 days indeed! Our next scheduled pick up is next Friday - 6 days away. The problem will have hopefully resolved itself. In the meantime my yard looks slummy with a garbage can outside.
I will also phone in on Monday to city hall to let them know my garbage can is still sitting out at the curb. I will also try to find out what resolutions they have for Cloverdale residents whose collection is missed on Saturdays. It would seem logical that they would have a phone number on their website for Emterra where residents could call directly and say what's going on? My can was at the curb well in advance - and yes I think a day ahead of scheduled pick up is sufficient! - and your staff drove right past it. Well, I have to admit I did not see them drive right past it. I didn't see them at all other than picking up the across the street bags and cans and then go down the side street.
This is the first time we've had a missed collection other than a couple of years ago when Surrey switched to Emterra on January 1 and it took about 3 weeks for them to get all the garbage collected.
I'll post an update after I've spoken with the city staff.
The company who has the Surrey contract for waste management is Emterra.
We live on a corner lot and have 2 driveways. I put my garbage can, recycle bin, and garden waste on one driveway and my tenant puts her garbage can and recycle bin on the other driveway. No need for garden waste on that driveway because I put all the garden waste on my driveway.
Yesterday - Friday July 1 - my tenant put her garbage and recycle out a day early. I called down to her and reminded her it was a stat and the garbagemen weren't picking up until Saturday. Oh well. At least she wasn't the only one in the neighborhood forgetting the stat and putting out a day ahead.
This morning - Saturday July 2 - I put my garbage can, my recycle bin, and 2 garden waste bins on my driveway which is a side street. No exit road, about 15 houses down there.
Our recycling is always picked up first, then the garbage, and usually the garden waste doesn't get picked up until later in the afternoon. They have odd routes. They seem to go down one side of the road collecting and then the other side, and they go off the side strees as they come to them.
When I came back from walking the dogs I saw the garbage truck. In fact they were blocking the roadway picking up the garbage from the house across the street. They had about 6 garbage bags and garbage cans. A little excessive. I believe each house is allowed 2. No matter. The garbageman took them all and then went down the side street.
We went out then and were gone for several hours. By the time I got home clearly the entire neighborhood's garbage and recycling were done but the garden waste hadn't picked up yet. I grabbed my empty garbage can and recycle box and put them away and then went to get my tentant's. To my surprise the garbage can was still full. What's going on? The can was at the curb where it always is and nothing obstructed it. The recycle box had been emptied.
So I looked up the city of Surrey's website because I know there's a number you can call if your waste hasn't been picked up.
Here's the web page with the information.
Basically it says to call their hotline 604-590-7289 to report the problem but its not open on stat holidays. To further aggravate the problem it says if you don't report the missed collection within 24 hours you might be out of luck for getting the garbage rescheduled.
OK. I might not be good at math but seeing as how today - Saturday - was the scheduled pick up day and the city is closed on Sunday I won't be able to report the problem until Monday which puts me outside the 24 hour range. To make matters worse after sticking around on the phone long enough and listening to all their menu options, there is no option to leave a message on the answering machine.
I was forced to take the other option at filling out their online form for complaints so I did that.
I got an auto responder back on my email saying the problem could take up to 10 days to resolve.
Hunh? This is our tax dollars at work! And by the way, speaking of taxes they are due at city hall on Monday July 4. A 10 day response period is unacceptable. I would think most companies or government agencies should strive for a 4 hour response time or at the most 24 hours. Unacceptable!
10 days indeed! Our next scheduled pick up is next Friday - 6 days away. The problem will have hopefully resolved itself. In the meantime my yard looks slummy with a garbage can outside.
I will also phone in on Monday to city hall to let them know my garbage can is still sitting out at the curb. I will also try to find out what resolutions they have for Cloverdale residents whose collection is missed on Saturdays. It would seem logical that they would have a phone number on their website for Emterra where residents could call directly and say what's going on? My can was at the curb well in advance - and yes I think a day ahead of scheduled pick up is sufficient! - and your staff drove right past it. Well, I have to admit I did not see them drive right past it. I didn't see them at all other than picking up the across the street bags and cans and then go down the side street.
This is the first time we've had a missed collection other than a couple of years ago when Surrey switched to Emterra on January 1 and it took about 3 weeks for them to get all the garbage collected.
I'll post an update after I've spoken with the city staff.
Donairs in Cloverdale Update
I walked past King Tut's Donairs today - 176th Street near 56A Ave - and there is a "grand opening" sign out front and a bunch of balloons on the sign.
I peeked inside the window and I could see staff members behind the kitchen area but no customers inside. It was early though, before noon. They have 3 different combos you can buy for donairs and pop, running about $8 to $11.
I walked past Shannon's Donairs on 57th Ave a couple of stores down from 176th Street and they still are promising to open soon. Perhaps they're having trouble with permits or inspections. Oddly enough all their fridges and appliances have been pulled away from the wall and are in the centre of the restaurant.
I peeked inside the window and I could see staff members behind the kitchen area but no customers inside. It was early though, before noon. They have 3 different combos you can buy for donairs and pop, running about $8 to $11.
I walked past Shannon's Donairs on 57th Ave a couple of stores down from 176th Street and they still are promising to open soon. Perhaps they're having trouble with permits or inspections. Oddly enough all their fridges and appliances have been pulled away from the wall and are in the centre of the restaurant.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Resurrecting the White Hotel?
The infamous White Hotel in downtown Cloverdale has been closed for about a year. Shortly after the police pulled a fugitive out of there after a few hours stand off the front door on sidewalk level and the 2nd floor windows were boarded up.
The street level houses 2 stores - Danica's hair and Sea Shanty fish & chips.
The building is about 100 years old and I guess many years ago it was a hotel. Even since I've been a kid its been living spaces up there. I'm not sure if they are bachelor apartments or 1 bedroom apartment or what the scoop is because I've never been inside. A couple of years ago the building's owner had put a sign on the door saying he'd renovated the building in hopes of attracting better quality residents.
Not judging by the fugitive hiding out there!
A couple of days ago I was walking the dogs past and noticed two men on a ladder/scaffolding changing the sign area. I can't really recall what was there before but they're putting up something very white. White Hotel? Whitewashed plywood type of thing. The front door was open and I glanced inside and saw the floor is a rather cheap looking laminate not placed correctly. Slapped widthwise across the hall instead of going lengthwise. I'm not sure what the reason was for doing it this way. Save money? Running low on laminate? Do-it-yourselfer who doesn't have a clue and didn't read the instructions on the box? It looks ugly, but I don't live there and I don't own it so its not my issue. Its a safe bet that whoever placed that floor doesn't live there either and doesn't care how it looks!
Anyway if that floor is any representation of what it looks like upstairs after renovations.....hmmm.
I guess after the fugitive issue the owner must have evicted all tenants or else they moved out on their own and the place has not been occupied for the past year. I don't know whether the last owner has since sold the White Hotel and somebody knew is taking it over and trying to get some revenue going again from the upstairs suites.
I do know it must be going slowly. Those 2 guys were back today again working on putting up that white sign. I'm not sure what's taking so long other than its overhead work and maybe awkward. The sign is only about 2 feet high and about 30 feet long and its in sections.
Oh well. I shall keep an eye out for a "rooms for rent" sign to show up on the door.
The street level houses 2 stores - Danica's hair and Sea Shanty fish & chips.
The building is about 100 years old and I guess many years ago it was a hotel. Even since I've been a kid its been living spaces up there. I'm not sure if they are bachelor apartments or 1 bedroom apartment or what the scoop is because I've never been inside. A couple of years ago the building's owner had put a sign on the door saying he'd renovated the building in hopes of attracting better quality residents.
Not judging by the fugitive hiding out there!
A couple of days ago I was walking the dogs past and noticed two men on a ladder/scaffolding changing the sign area. I can't really recall what was there before but they're putting up something very white. White Hotel? Whitewashed plywood type of thing. The front door was open and I glanced inside and saw the floor is a rather cheap looking laminate not placed correctly. Slapped widthwise across the hall instead of going lengthwise. I'm not sure what the reason was for doing it this way. Save money? Running low on laminate? Do-it-yourselfer who doesn't have a clue and didn't read the instructions on the box? It looks ugly, but I don't live there and I don't own it so its not my issue. Its a safe bet that whoever placed that floor doesn't live there either and doesn't care how it looks!
Anyway if that floor is any representation of what it looks like upstairs after renovations.....hmmm.
I guess after the fugitive issue the owner must have evicted all tenants or else they moved out on their own and the place has not been occupied for the past year. I don't know whether the last owner has since sold the White Hotel and somebody knew is taking it over and trying to get some revenue going again from the upstairs suites.
I do know it must be going slowly. Those 2 guys were back today again working on putting up that white sign. I'm not sure what's taking so long other than its overhead work and maybe awkward. The sign is only about 2 feet high and about 30 feet long and its in sections.
Oh well. I shall keep an eye out for a "rooms for rent" sign to show up on the door.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Playing at the Clova from July 1 to July 6 2011
Playing this week at the Clova from Friday July 1 until the 6th:
7pm - Green Lantern
9:10pm - Hanna
Last show lets out at 11pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 people admission is $15. Add $4 for each additional person in your group. Tuesdays is $5.
7pm - Green Lantern
9:10pm - Hanna
Last show lets out at 11pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 people admission is $15. Add $4 for each additional person in your group. Tuesdays is $5.
Getting the Millenium Park ready for Canada Day 2011
I drove past the Millenium Park in Cloverdale today when I had to pick up something at London Drugs across the street.
They're getting things set up. I saw several canopy tents. I saw a ferris wheel - kind of hard to miss that one its pretty tall! A few other midway rides are being set up. I saw the octopus - do they still call it that? I saw some food concessions, one selling chicken.
I heard the weather forecast on the news today - 50% chance of showers. Ha, I guess they're playing it safe! Have a 50% chance of getting that one right!
Might be a good idea to pack a light raincoat or hat. I would not recommend bringing an umbrella. In the past its been on the forbidden list for the Canada Day celebrations. Its kind of inconsiderate too with the amount of people present and everyone getting crowded together. Bringing an umbrella is sure to poke out some unsuspecting spectator.
What is on the forbidden list to bring inside the Millenium Park? Pets, BBQ's, alcohol, drugs.
They're getting things set up. I saw several canopy tents. I saw a ferris wheel - kind of hard to miss that one its pretty tall! A few other midway rides are being set up. I saw the octopus - do they still call it that? I saw some food concessions, one selling chicken.
I heard the weather forecast on the news today - 50% chance of showers. Ha, I guess they're playing it safe! Have a 50% chance of getting that one right!
Might be a good idea to pack a light raincoat or hat. I would not recommend bringing an umbrella. In the past its been on the forbidden list for the Canada Day celebrations. Its kind of inconsiderate too with the amount of people present and everyone getting crowded together. Bringing an umbrella is sure to poke out some unsuspecting spectator.
What is on the forbidden list to bring inside the Millenium Park? Pets, BBQ's, alcohol, drugs.
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