Editor:

Last year the City of Chilliwack was given the old Paramount Theatre on Yale Road by the owners who retired and possibly thought they could not compete with the new Galaxy Theatre built in the same city. They gave it to the people of Chilliwack as a token of appreciation as they knew how much it meant to the people of Chilliwack and Abbotsford throughout the years.

Instead of the city embracing this gem of a landmark, they seem to think that the only option is to destroy it.

Lots of interest has been shown in using the old theatre by a few special interest groups, but all interested parties were handed walking papers. It appears that the city wants to make sure that any group that uses the building has enough money to repair the building. In these tough times "special interest groups" are having a difficult time raising funds, but the city does not seem to understand this. The city stated that they will not use any public funds in the upgrade of the old theatre, but will spend thousands of dollars in demolishing it, if not tens of thousands of our public tax money. Why not put that money into preserving the heritage landmark instead?

Besides, is it not absolutely ridiculous of the city to expect anyone to invest that kind of money into a building they do not own? I mean really, it's like you buying a house and rent it out under the rule that whomever rents it must upgrade all the plumbing, electrical, put on a new roof and landscape it too. It's baffling. Why not just put the building up for sale if you don't want it.

Like the landmark Empress Hotel in Chilliwack, which the city actually purchased for quite a handsome amount of taxpayer dollars (I believe it was over $1 million), the city promptly demolished it. The theatre is headed for the same fate. Let's give the city some credit though, they are learning a thing or two from past blunders . . . at least we didn't buy the Paramount Theatre, it was graciously donated to the city to preserve.

Downtown Chilliwack is beginning to resemble many German cities during the Second World War that were bombed by air raids and quite frankly it disgusts me to no end to see our city looking like a battle zone. And, as usual, the downtown core is failing to get any help with revitalization from the city. Many of you may remember the new downtown plan of approximately six years ago. The Paramount Theatre played a pivotal role in that project. Oh, and the study cost taxpayers in excess of $40,000.

I would like to see this letter take off like wildfire and maybe start a petition to save the old theatre. Help spread the word and maybe we can show city hall that some of the people of Chilliwack value the city's rich history and would like to preserve some of it before it's all gone forever.

B. Shaw Chilliwack