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.

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.

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.

Rush hour traffic jam in Cloverdale June 28

There's a bit of a traffic snarl in Cloverdale right now at the intersection of Highway 10 and Highway 15. It appears a semi truck and trailer rig were in the left hand turn lane on Highway 10, ready to turn onto the Cloverdale Bypass and head northbound. Truck stalled.

I heard it on the news so I walked the dogs over. What I saw was another tractor from the same company showed up to assist. They disconnected the trailer and left it there in the left hand turn lane and attached a chain or cable onto the stalled tractor. I guess he was planning to tow it to the parking lot of the old Cloverdale Mall. Light changes and they turn left. Except unfortunately the cable snapped. Sproing! I heard that!

The tractor has now stalled in front of both lanes of Highway 10 traffic heading west. Tractor has not blocked the left hand turn lanes heading south on Highway 15 nor the right hand turn lane that borders the Husky gas station. The crazy thing is drivers start honking. Hmm. I don't think that big truck is going anywhere. Want to get out and help push it?

The driver of the tractor that's mobile pulls over to inspect the situation. I guess there was no resurrecting that chain. He decides to abandon the stalled truck and circles around to collect the trailer that's still in the left hand turn lane.

I walked down Highway 10 and traffic is backed up as far as I can see. When I circled around Cloverdale I saw cars leaving Highway 10 at 176A or 177B Streets and making their way down 57th Avenue so they could get around the stalled truck.

The stalled truck was still there when I walked past 10 minutes later. Perhaps they should call a big tow truck?

Is Anyone Using Greenaway Pool?

I still haven't seen any swimmers in Greenaway Pool when I'm driving past Greenaway Park. Granted the weather has been a little cool but there have been sunny days, even yesterday was muggy though not hot and sunny, still would have been a good day to cool off in a pool.

And I did. I went to YMCA's pool!

According to the City of Surrey's website here are the hours that Greenaway Pool should be open:

Monday to Friday: 1pm to 3pm and then again from 6pm to 7:30pm
Saturday, Sunday: 1:30pm to 3:00pm, and then 3:30pm to 5pm, and then 5:30pm to 7pm

It also claims on Monday and Wednesday night from 7pm to 8pm its adult swim only.

I still say its hit and miss. There have been many times I've driven by the pool in summers past when it was supposed to be open but was empty. There are also times it was not supposed to be open and I saw swimmers in the pool. And not swimming lessons. Lots of people moving around and doing stuff not consistent with lessons.

So use those hours from the City of Surrey as a guideline but don't be surprised if you show up at Greenaway Pool and see the gates locked.

Its free to swim here so one might say you get what you pay for!

Canada Day 2011 Celebrations at Cloverdale Millenium Park

July 1 Canada Day is either a very good day or a very bad day to be in Cloverdale. About 100,000 people show up each year for the celebrations at the Millenium Park that is on the southeast corner of 176th Street and 64th Avenue. If you are not planning to celebrate - stay away from this part of town. Traffic is a madhouse! Sucks if you have to get into the Clover Crossing Mall. Don't even think about parking here and sneaking across the street to watch the action. The mall puts out big signs stating don't park your car here and leave. Several security officers are stationed in the parking lot ensuring that people who park their cars in the lot are going into one of the shops. They will call for tow trucks.

Admission is free. Festivities start at 10am and go on for about 12 hours. Click here for more information about Canada Day celebrations.

The headline act this year is Trooper! They will be on stage from 8:45pm until 10:15pm. I last heard them when they played at the Maple Ridge Fair about 5 years. They put on a very good show. Good enough that we plan to walk over to the park so we can hear them. We don't think we'll get close enough to see them clearly because the place will be packed but we like their music. We'll also get to enjoy the fireworks on our walk home because that's when they'll be set off.

So where to park? The streets east of 176th are packed with cars. The fairgrounds has some parking and today I saw a sign pointing at the fairgrounds for Canada Day Parking. I think they open the gates to the racetrack and park a lot of cars in there.

Just want to watch the fireworks? A lot of people bring a blanket and sit down on the football field at Lord Tweedsmuir. Another good spot we found was the parking lot of the old Shop Easy and I never remember its current name. Cloverdale Super Market? Its on the corner of 176th Street and 58th Avenue. Good view of the fireworks from there if you sit in your car. The shop is closed so you're not taking away patron's parking.

Enjoy your long weekend!

Free Pancakes and BBQ at the Cloverdale Legion Saturday June 25 2011

The Cloverdale Legion at 17567-57th Avenue is holding an open house this Saturday June 25 2011 from 8:30am until 4:30pm. They have booths and displays showing the Legion's history and part of this event is to recruit new members.

There will be a free pancake breakfast between 8:30am and 10:30am. If this is typical of the Legion's pancake breakfast, expect pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, tea, and orange juice/drink.

There will be a free BBQ between 1pm and 3pm. Menu unknown.