Chilliwack, BC (With files from Chilliwack Progress) – Over the past five years, there has been plenty of talk of what to do with parts of the Old Chilliwack Downtown.
The wrecking ball has taken care of a few eyesores. That list includes the Paramount Theatre, Ewart Building, Irwin Block and the Old Safeway on Main Street.
It appears the next target could be the infamous Traders Inn which is sandwiched in between Yale Road and First Avenue.
Fencing went up around the 32-unit motel more than a year ago, and that was after the shut down of the motel and it’s fair share of drug and prostitution raids (RCMP executed a drug raid in late 2013).
Neighboring businesses have complained about the eye sore as well as other activity around the Inn. That includes the Mr. Lube which backs up to the infamous property. Mr. Lube Owner Dave Van Dongen has gone on record stating that something has to be done.
The property is owned by Surrey-based Chilliwack Country Inn Ltd and over the past year, one Realtor asked FVN what the status of the Motor Inn was. On condition of anonymity, she said there was interest from a prospective buyer but that deal seemed to have dissolved into the ether.
There is a file rolling through City Staff at Chilliwack City Hall that apparently includes possible rezoning and demolition due to its derelict status.
While it is too early to say what will happen, it is a fairly safe bet that City Council will be dealing with the fate of the Traders Inn, very early in the new year.
