What's the lesson to be learned? Don't fuck with Lorje
SP exclusive: Order could bring Barry Hotel down
By Lori Coolican
TheStarPhoenix.com
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The Barry Hotel's future became a bit more uncertain this week.
The City of Saskatoon registered an order against the title on the aging hotel at the corner of Avenue B and 20th Street on Tuesday, demanding the owner conduct major structural repairs and extensive interior renovations or totally demolish the building by July 31, The StarPhoenix has learned.
"This building has been allowed to deteriorate to a ruinous and dilapidated state that may be dangerous to the health of occupants in the building," a municipal inspector wrote in the order, which lists six major contraventions of the city's property maintenance bylaw identified during a Jan. 15 inspection.
"A large amount of 'standing water' has been allowed to accumulate in the boiler room for an extended time period, causing metal materials to rust and deterioration of wall and ceiling materials throughout the basement. Mould is visible on walls and ceilings in main floor rooms located above the boiler room area."
The problems are not just on the inside, according to the five-page order.
"Masonry bricks display deformity on the north and east walls. Loose bricks above the public sidewalk on Avenue B South may fall and injure persons below."
The structural supports holding up the first floor, "including metal beams and concrete pillars, display rusted and deteriorated conditions. Evidence of damage to the concrete foundation is visible," it adds.
The inspector also found sagging ceilings in hallways and bathrooms - with evidence of more rust and water damage showing through areas where ceiling tiles were missing - and large cracks in a stairwell leading to the hotel's roof.
The interior walls, floors and ceilings "are not being maintained in a suitable manner" and will also need work to bring the building in line with the city's property maintenance bylaw, according to the order.
"Walls and ceilings throughout the building display damage or finish materials are missing. . . . Interior doors and door frames that form a portion of the walls are damaged and doors are not securely fastened to the door frames. Wall and ceiling materials in the 'shared' bathrooms of the second and third floor areas display damaged finish materials including 'sagging' ceilings and cracked and peeling paint."
The walls and ceiling materials of the hotel's notorious main-floor bar are also damaged or missing, and the inspector found mould on the walls and ceilings of the storage rooms, as well as water damage to the walls and ceilings in the basement.
The owner is required to replace floor tiles in the bathrooms, damaged linoleum in stairwells and damaged carpeting.
"Floor coverings are not being maintained in a reasonable state of repair," the inspector wrote.
The building's plumbing is "not maintained in good working order," he added. "Water supply lines are leaking. Waterproof materials near the bathtubs are damaged. Bathroom sinks are stained and water faucets are leaking. Toilets are not operable."
The hotel's windows are not maintained either and panes are cracked or missing in the bathrooms on the second and third floors, according to the order.
Owner Shoshana Goldstein has until the end of March to file a structural assessment report signed by an accredited engineer, showing that all of the structural deficiencies can be repaired and listing the repairs that are needed. Alternatively, she could demolish the place and clear the land of all debris by that date.
If she chooses to make repairs, she is required to file a written confirmation - signed by an engineer - proving the work has all been done before July 31.
The order gives Goldstein until March 31 to fix the plumbing and windows, as well as "remove the 'standing water' from the boiler room and complete any repairs required to avoid an accumulation of water in this area."
In an interview Thursday, Goldstein said she had not seen the city's order and was not aware it existed. She insisted there is nothing wrong with the building, which is currently home to about four dozen long-term residents.
"I don't see anything wrong. I don't know what they're talking about," she said.
Goldstein has been negotiating to sell the hotel to L&L Holdings, a local company which recently applied to the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Commission for a liquor licence and off-sale permit to continue operating it under the name Lorje Place Hotel.
Larry Bozek, one of two partners in the company, has said the new name is only partially a reference to city councillor Pat Lorje, who has been vocally critical of the hotel's reputation for violent incidents. He could not be reached for comment about the property inspector's orders Thursday.
Lorje has hired a lawyer to fight Bozek's plan to change the hotel's name. She and several other councillors expressed a desire to have the Barry torn down last fall, after civic staff negotiated to buy it from Goldstein. The sale fell through after an environmental assessment found problems that will likely make demolition expensive.
According to public documents obtained by The StarPhoenix, the Canada Revenue Agency registered three separate writs against the title of the Barry Hotel last year, for a total amount of nearly $50,000. Two local contractors also placed builders' liens against the property for unpaid bills last year.
The City of Saskatoon placed a tax lien against the Barry in 2006 for an unspecified amount. Late last year, civic officials said the hotel was about $140,000 behind in its taxes and utility payments.
lcoolican@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix 2008