The Village of Fruitvale is warning residents to keep clear of the former Beaver Valley Middle School grounds as demolition and hazard remediation begin on the long-vacated building.
Now that teardown is underway, officials are emphasizing the importance of public safety.
The structure is not only unsound but is now an active hazard remediation site.
A notice issued by the municipality this week calls the structure “severely compromised,” warning it is now more dangerous than ever.
The site has become a liability hotspot following a recent break-in where trespassers reportedly entered the gymnasium, traversing collapsed roofing to steal contractor equipment and supplies.
“This reckless behaviour not only endangers those involved,” the notice reads, “but also puts taxpayers at risk of further costs and liabilities.”
Any interference could delay work, increase costs, and, most importantly, lead to serious injury.
“Stay away from the site,” the village’s notice warns. “Unauthorized entry is both dangerous and illegal.”
Long path to redevelopment
Fruitvale purchased the first parcel of the 3.7-hectare school site in 2018 for $149,000, and acquired the remaining portion a year later for $190,000.
Since then, the village has spearheaded a redevelopment effort to transform the blighted site into housing and childcare facilities.
The former school building — vacant since 2003 — has loomed large in the village core, plagued by vandalism, structural decay, and rising public safety concerns.
After multiple consultations and community workshops, the village partnered with the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society and leased 2.8 acres of the site for $100 to enable funding for Blizzard Mountain Place, a 31-unit affordable rental complex currently under construction and slated for completion in fall 2025.
Funding for the $3.5 million housing project has come from BC Housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Columbia Basin Trust, Teck Trail Operations, and others.
The new Beaver Valley Childcare Centre, offering 37 licensed spaces, opened last spring on the front section of the property facing Columbia Gardens Road.
Demolition moves forward without AAP
Last summer, council launched an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to borrow up to $2 million for demolition of the unsafe structure.
However, the AAP was not accepted by residents, temporarily halting plans to fund the teardown through taxation.
Despite this setback, the village was able to proceed with demolition using a $1.27 million Growing Communities Grant received in 2023.
Former Deputy Mayor Catherine Ellison said the funds were placed in a term deposit prior to the gym roof collapse and have grown to $1.4 million, which will now fully cover the demolition cost. The deposit matures in March 2025.
“There are many moving parts to the demolition of the middle school, but the most important part is why it is being demolished,” Ellison explained in a bulletin to residents.
“The section that is being demolished is the gym area, this is where the roof collapsed, which makes it a very dangerous area.”
A significant portion of the expense stems from asbestos remediation, which must be handled in accordance with strict environmental and safety regulations during teardown.
The remaining portion of the building is considered structurally sound and, according to Ellison, will be retained for future development.
