Theatre renaissance withdrawn in Cumberland

By Colleen Dane - Comox Valley Record

Published: January 15, 2009 6:00 PM
Updated: January 16, 2009 8:09 AM

A major proposal for the Ilo Ilo Theatre in
Cumberland has been cancelled even before seeing the curtain raised on its opening night debut.

Scott Harrison, owner of Comox Valley Investment Corporation, said this week he is removing the application submitted to the village because of what he calls a slow pace of business, disrespect by employees and challenging economic times.

“I provide the best, gold-star application in the history of the village ... and they still haven’t even started processing it,” Harrison said Wednesday. “How long do I wait?”

The proposal, submitted three months ago according to Harrison, included plans to restore and expand the art deco-styled Ilo Ilo Theatre on Dunsmuir Avenue, and build a small boutique hotel and wine bar on the adjoining property.

It also included a proposal for a mixed-use facility on Beaufort Avenue with commercial space and some work/live lofts above.

“I hope that somebody will pick it up. I think it’s a great idea. (But) I will not be a part of it,” said Harrison.

In fact, Harrison said he’s so frustrated with the development culture in the village that he’s planning to sell his assets, including the historic Ilo Ilo and former post office, to leave completely.

Harrison bought the historic post office and began renovating it a few years ago. The upstairs was turned into a living area, while the main floor was turned into office space for his investment company.

He bought the Ilo Ilo from Dave Stevens, who ran the Comox Valley Auction there for 35 years, in 2007.

“I’ve invested a lot in this community and I don’t see any tangible benefits except to take my money,” Harrison said.

Among the problems, he said, are criticisms he says he’s received from people insinuating that his involvement in Mayor Fred Bates’ election campaign this November had been in the hopes of getting special favour in a stratification and development application at the village.

He also said that he hasn’t been treated with respect by village staff, and that after continued delays at the village office, the financing for the project has been difficult to work out.

“I was willing to stick it out, but I’m no longer putting myself out there,” he said.

Acting Mayor Leslie Baird said this week that she was surprised by the news of the withdrawn application.

On the same day Harrison said he was withdrawing his application, she was at a development services committee meeting at the village offices with staff who knew nothing of his decision. In fact, the application was discussed.

“Staff were working on it,” she said, noting that Harrison was going to be advised of the village’s policy to not allow any further water connections.

“He was going to have to come to council to discuss that,” she said.

She said the time it takes to process applications is due simply to the heavy load of development proposals and their limited staff resources.

“He has been dealt with the same as we deal with all developers. I take exception to that comment,” she said.

Mayor Fred Bates was on vacation this week and unavailable for comment, but Baird said she would be the person to comment anyway, since Bates had made the decision to remove himself from any consideration of Harrison’s applications, due to the perception of a conflict of interest.

Harrison said the challenges he’s faced have put his business in danger by impacting his credibility with investors.

“It was never my money. It was always other people’s money and I sold them on the public statements of council,” he said. “I will no longer put my name forward.”