To raise or raze. That's the ultimatum a Duncan group is facing as it attempts to save a derelict 1908 house slated for demolition.
And this Sunday, June 20, the volunteers hope to gather more than good wishes - they plan to raise $35,000 at a Father's Day auction.
That's only the beginning. By June 30, the Green Door Fund needs to raise enough pledges to cover the $225,000 purchase price of the property, one of the last residents left in the downtown area.
It could be a happy ending to a tragic story. The home's longtime owner, Mary Newman, 85, was murdered during a burglary attempt in March 1998. Her 22-year-old attacker pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will be sentenced next month.
Vancouver property developer John Strom bought the property from the Newman estate in April and planned to have the building razed to make room for a 29-stall parking lot. But local citizens, lead by building contractor David Coulson, formed the Green Door Fund to lobby city hall for a reprieve against issuing demolition and development permits.
The property will have a positive effect on the community, says Coulson.
"It's going to breathe life into the downtown," he said of the house at 126 Ingram St. "It's knock-out gorgeous."
He expects the renovation to open up pathways through to businesses on nearby Kenneth Street and create a green focus for the downtown core.
Operated through the Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association, the Green Door Fund has attracted corporate and community supporters from Coors Canada to the local historical society. Donations for Sunday's silent auction include boat cruises, restaurant meals and fine art from well-known painters such as Grant Leier and Tom Putnam as well as sculpture, stained glass and pottery.
The group also has a range of note cards, mugs, place mats and buttons for sale. Supporters can buy a BRIC (Be Recognized In your Community) for the proposed walkway link to retail areas. A local masonry supply company, Brownsey Block, is donating the bricks which the group is selling for $20 each.
After renovations, which Coulson expects will cost about $200,000, the home's second floor could be rented as office space for community groups, while the main floor can be sublet as a community kitchen or for other special functions.
Since the campaign kicked off in March, Coulson has been impressed by the local support for the plan. "I've never had more humbling experiences," said Coulson. "I've learned to just say thank you."
Story by Susan Down 2001
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