To the Editor,
Re: ‘Barney Building’ sitting idle, Aug. 2.
It is a travesty that non-resident owners of properties let them become eyesores to any city.
The Steiners don’t care about Nanaimo, they care about their investments.
They will hold on to the “Barney Building”until the rest of downtown has been improved, then sell when the most money can be made. This is a sad truth.
This means that a creative solution must be found to deal with this eyesore – with the permission and even some assistance from the Steiners.
Why doesn’t the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association propose that the building (at least the street level section) be covered in a fantastic marine mural, like the one done on the backside of the McGavin bread building?
Why not use what is now an eyesore and create an attraction?
In the big picture it won’t cost much money, but the benefits to the downtown, tourism and the general well-being of our citizens will be dramatically improved.
The reality is we are going to be staring at the Barney Building as it is for years to come, so let’s make it something delightful to look at.
Sarah J. Clark
Nanaimo