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Old ADSS theatre and gymnasium now rubble

A concrete block and two mounds of rubble are all that remains of the theatre and gymnasium of the old ADSSon Burde Street.
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A cement block is all that remains of what used to be the theater at the old ADSS on Burde Street. The gymnasium which was located next to it has been leveled to rubble as well.

A concrete block and two mounds of rubble are all that remains of the theatre and gymnasium of the old Alberni District Secondary School on Burde Street.

Both buildings were levelled within the last month, School District 70 Secretary Treasurer Lindsay Cheetham said. The old administration building and the library are still standing.

A skeletal steel structure is all that remains of the old drama room. The incline near the old bus loop that used to lead to the main building now leads to a vast empty space.

Old drama roomThe demolition, which officials thought would be completed in May, is now slated to be finished by the end of July, Cheetham said.

The work was originally scheduled to be finished by April but the demo was extended to allow for removing asbestos material.

Community members pined for the buildings to be left intact and operating because of their long history.

But school officials said the buildings would be too costly to renovate, bring up to earthquake standard and add stand-alone plumbing, electricity and heating—not to mention finding tenants.

The former library will be left standing for now. The two-storey building was renovated in the last decade and meets earthquake standards. The building remains minimally heated and maintained.

No community group has expressed interest in the facility yet, Cheetham said.

reporter@albernivalleynews.com

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