A Dawson Creek hair salon, Brass Scissors, has been approved to rebuild in the same spot where its former building burned down last year.
"They were right next to the Alaska Hotel that burned down last year," said Mayor Mike Bernier. "It's great to see that (owner Lynn Granger) and her staff are moving forward."
Both the Alaska Hotel and Brass Scissors burned down in a fire last September, and were demolished. With the earlier destruction of Wildcat Video from fire, much of the space on the corner of 10th Street and 103 Avenue has been vacant.
Currently, Granger is renting a building nearby to temporarily house her employees.
The business’s insurance “will only cover rebuilding what was previously existing,” according to information presented to City Council. Four parking spots will also be installed in the back.
Granger said she was “very happy” about the project’s approval.
“I’m just looking forward to building again,” she added.
When asked about the date she would like to build, she said that any efforts would have to wait until spring.
The redevelopment permit earned praise from city council and staff.
Councillor Shaely Wilbur said she wanted to wish her congratulations to Granger for the move. The City's chief administrative officer, Jim Chute, said that Granger's resiliency was "amazing."
However, Granger's plan to rebuild also conflicts with what some business owners would like to see done with the spot.
“It will be a miracle to produce something dramatic in that block now. My goal was that we would get together and put together a plan that would allow the Mile 0 Post, the centre of town, to see something monumental,” said Charles Kux-Kardos, owner of the Alaska Hotel that burned down in the same fire as Brass Scissors.
“It’s sad that she doesn’t want to explore options ... as Margo Hannah wrote: The inferno on tenth places our city in the unenviable position of appearing to have lost several teeth,” he added.
“This makes it more challenging to come up with something to dramatize the downtown core and promote its revitalization.”
Bernier said that so far, no plans have been made for the two other lots to the left and right of where Brass Scissors is currently planned to go.
"We haven't heard anything from the Alaska Hotel or from Wildcat Video (about) what their plans are," said Bernier. "Our hope is always that something will (be) built on both sides of her and continue to revitalize downtown."
