“Fire damage is one thing, but when people got hurt, that is something else.”
That’s from Prince George Mayor Simon Yu following yesterday’s (Tuesday) explosion in the downtown core that sent three people to hospital.
In an interview with MyPGNow.com, Yu says this has led to an increased sense of urgency to clean up the area, especially the section between 3rd Avenue’s between George and Victoria Streets.
“I would like to see a capital budget moved forward to develop a visual 3-D model for the downtown core. Everybody in this town can then see what this place can be and once it can be I know the people here and we will make it a reality.”
Of the people injured, one remains in critical condition and was taken to Vancouver for further treatment.
Yu confirmed a city worker who was on duty at the time was among those hurt in the wreckage.
In a further update today (Wednesday), the Prince George RCMP noted it will be “several days” before their investigation is complete.
Dominion Street between 4th and 5th Avenue will remain closed for the duration of the investigation, the rest of downtown has reopened.
The cause is still under investigation but the file has been deemed suspicious by local Mounties.
As part of the recovery effort, Yu said spurring economic development along 3rd Avenue between Victoria and George Street will be key during revitalization efforts.
“We need to inspire a vision of hope. We need to make a visual statement on what things could be and will be for this area in the next couple generations. We cannot sit idle behind and watch these depleting old structures.”
“Talking and doing things is good, communication is important, but it is super important to have a piece of a visual development statement in front of us that can inspire the people still there and the investment to come.”
Yu admitted while work is being done to add more low-barrier housing as well as other supports, fixing a decades long problem, which includes drug use, crime and mental health issues will be anything but an overnight fix.
“We must deal with multiple social economic issues at the same time. Work is being done – some of the work in the background is being done. But in the days and months ahead I would like to see this incident as a booster to the city’s attention to this area.”
“The situation has been deteriorating for many, many years. I wouldn’t say just the last year or two. We have not seen too many positive developments for the area in many years, we need to have a long-term vision for the downtown core as well as this area (impacted fire area).”
Several business owners along the stretch of Dominion between 4th and 5th avenues have already reached out to our mayor for some much-needed discussions on how to rebuild and recover.
Yu noted it didn’t take any convincing for him to say yes to those talks.
“In the days and weeks ahead, I will be having in-depth discussions with all the owners trying to operate their business there to see what we can do as a people.”
“We need to find some of forms of economic generating opportunities on some of the empty lots. I need to personally call upon all the owners and to discuss some of their thoughts and how we can do it together to revitalize that portion of the town,” added Yu.
In total, 126 customers were left without power for several hours due to the explosion, the vast majority of which were businesses according to BC Hydro.
Each one with the exception of Heartbreakers Nightclub and UNBC’s Wood Innovation Research Lab has had service restored.
City council will meet again on Monday at City Hall to discuss more of the fallout from the explosion.
Meanwhile, public input on the city’s Core District Plan is available until September 15th.
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