Today a building in downtown Vancouver caught fire, and burned, as they say, to the ground. When I was at university eons ago, studying theatre history, we learned that this was the common fate of 19th century theatres, so much so that our instructor, reviewing the stats on one, would say, "The So-and-So Theatre, built in 1876 on Knickerbocker Street, in 1883 it did what?"
"Burned to the ground!" we would reply in unison.
This one wasn't a 19th century theatre, chock full of arc and gas lighting, painted canvas and heavy drapes. Though it was old, and reports have it that it was somewhat crowded inside, full of artists' studios crammed into all available space. Still, it's not the sort of thing one expects anymore, that a building that's stood for some eighty years, its tenants quiet, sensible painters and sculpters and potters, that such a building would catch fire one morning and not stop, even after the roof fell in, even after the fire trucks sprayed water by the ton into it.
It was kitty-corner to Nola's building, and down one. She got her backup hard drive, and CDs, and pending drawings and portfolio together, but she only has two hands and knew that if she had to leave, there'd be stacks and drawers full of finished work that would have to stay behind. She breathed smoke for hours, and waited, and in the end they kept the fire from spreading.
An older man was on the news this evening. Fifteen microphones were pointed his way. Someone asked if his paintings had been in the building. Yes, all of them. And how many were there? How long had he been painting? All his life, he said, and then there wasn't anything else to say.
3 Comments
Thank you for your comments about the fire on West Pender Street. I was running a business in that building until the fire destroyed most of it. Although I had only worked for the company for about five years, the business itself had been at the same location for almost 26 years. Another business in the building was also at the same location for about 20 years.
There were a few artist studios in the place, but there was also a convenience store, clothing store, internet cafe, nightclub and even a large, gay bathhouse to name a few. Fortunately the company I worked for had insurance, and I have found out that more tenants than previously reported on the news also had insurance.
The unfortunate thing is that even though a number of us are covered, quite a few of us are still waiting for our claims to be processed, we are told the delay is because City Hall is taking an ‘unusual’ amount of time getting this fire report completed, even the insurance adjusters are wondering what is going on. Which then just brings up conspiracy theories of all sorts.
To top it off, those without insurance have received no help at all in most cases. All of us have had trouble just trying to get a simple answer from anyone in authority concerning this incident.
Also, ‘Popcorn Lady’ as she apparently wants to be referred too (and as her face-pic confirms) is still up to her old habits in the neighbourhood, so make sure you have insurance of some kind where you work or live. Even during the excavation of the building (which was a hell onto itself), she had the nerve to approach those tenants she recognized and taunted them (mostly the women) in various ways.
This is the second fire since March 2003 that she ‘allegedly’ started, both by attempting to cook up drugs with the intention to sell. Yet she’s still walking free.
Our hearts go out to those still waiting for claims to be processed in the Kelowna/Kamloops region, but I’m here to tell you, we too are still waiting, so hold on to what you can because it will probably be a long haul.
During this time though, I have learned alot about myself, and about caring for others, us tenants with and without insurance have become closer and are looking out for each other, doing what we can, its nice to now see more tenants positive about their future, which can only be a good thing.
Thank you for your comments and the update. As you say, it wasn’t only studios, but a number of unique small businesses that were affected. I’m sorry to hear that the insurance and the settlements with the city are taking so long. It’s been over two months, and the cause of the fire is no mystery.
I thought that ‘Popcorn Lady’ was to be charged with a criminal offence. I don’t understand why, under the circumstances, she is not in custody.
Caught since July dealing drugs and again set free, at least she didn’t start what would have been her third fire this time.
And still the tenants with or without insurance have received no help. Now City Hall has clammed up and will not give the tenants any information at all which could possibly help their insurance claims be processed.
Does anyone know the reason why?
The excavator of the fire site was also caught stealing salvageable goods off the site, most of the tenants were witness to this and have photographs/video which were shown to the police and he has also not been charged.
So is Vancouver as lawless as the media claims its becoming?