Boundary Bay Airport Hangar
Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:50 am
I had mentioned in the "what's still left to restore to flying condition" thread about my museum's lack of space and money and BLR had suggested the World War Two hangar at Boundary Bay Airport would be a great place for the Canadian Museum of Flight (CMF) to move.
I've been working on trying to figure out a way to have the CMF moved there and into the big hangar that "is" available.
The airport is owned by the City of Delta, BC, but all property and buildings, etc are leased to Alpha Aviation; who has already done a lot of great work to improve the airport like extending the main runway. They also seem interested in having an aviation museum in the big hangar, but don't seem overly eager to make it happen, which confused me.
I called the realestate agent in charge of the Boundary Bay Airport facilities to ask what it would take to have the CMF move into the hangar and they wanted to lease the hangar (and no property) for $600,000 per year. Is that reasonable? To me, I think that's a little rich.
Also, it was in Alpha Aviation's contract with Delta City Council that they would put a sprinkler system into the hangar (which it currently doesn't have) so the hangar could be used to store museum artifacts and aircraft. Today I learned that this plan to put sprinklers in has been stopped.
And the new plan is to leave the hangar perminently empty. While it's empty it is supposed to be rented out to community groups and film crews, but otherwise won't be used. From what I "assume" (and we all know what assuming means), Alpha Aviation probably plans to pressure Delta City Council into removing the "Heritage building" status of the hangar (which prohibits it from being torn down), so that Alpha Aviation can tear it down, destroying the only original structure that's left on the airport, and put up a new hangar.
Sure, it would be cost effective to simply build a new hangar with a sprinkler system, instead of having a custom system put into an aging structure, but that's no way to preserve history. From what I know the WWII hangar has many years left in it.
I get the feeling that Alpha Aviation is too interested in getting maximum revenues from their airport and disinterested in just about everything else. The WWII hangar on the airport seems to be a stumbling block for Alpha Aviation as it is a giant unusable hangar in a prime location on the airport, but it CAN'T be torn down due to its "Heritage Status." I think they know full well that they won't make any money off of an aviation museum being in that big hangar, so they probably want to figure out a way to get rid of the hangar, and put up money making structures.
I wonder if Delta City Council would "give" the hangar to the CMF if we were to be able to find sponsors to flip the bill for the sprinkler/retardant system to be installed.
Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions for how to save this building, and possibly how we can get the CMF in there? It'll be sad to see that hangar come down, and to see an opportunity lost for the CMF to move to a better airport.
Cheers,
David
BLR wrote:daveymac82c wrote:Hey everyone,
All the airplanes I have mentioned above have the potential to fly again, but because of our museum's current funding and space restrictions, we may never see them even worked on.
The hangar at CZBB would solve the space problems
Brian....
I've been working on trying to figure out a way to have the CMF moved there and into the big hangar that "is" available.
The airport is owned by the City of Delta, BC, but all property and buildings, etc are leased to Alpha Aviation; who has already done a lot of great work to improve the airport like extending the main runway. They also seem interested in having an aviation museum in the big hangar, but don't seem overly eager to make it happen, which confused me.
I called the realestate agent in charge of the Boundary Bay Airport facilities to ask what it would take to have the CMF move into the hangar and they wanted to lease the hangar (and no property) for $600,000 per year. Is that reasonable? To me, I think that's a little rich.
Also, it was in Alpha Aviation's contract with Delta City Council that they would put a sprinkler system into the hangar (which it currently doesn't have) so the hangar could be used to store museum artifacts and aircraft. Today I learned that this plan to put sprinklers in has been stopped.
And the new plan is to leave the hangar perminently empty. While it's empty it is supposed to be rented out to community groups and film crews, but otherwise won't be used. From what I "assume" (and we all know what assuming means), Alpha Aviation probably plans to pressure Delta City Council into removing the "Heritage building" status of the hangar (which prohibits it from being torn down), so that Alpha Aviation can tear it down, destroying the only original structure that's left on the airport, and put up a new hangar.
Sure, it would be cost effective to simply build a new hangar with a sprinkler system, instead of having a custom system put into an aging structure, but that's no way to preserve history. From what I know the WWII hangar has many years left in it.
I get the feeling that Alpha Aviation is too interested in getting maximum revenues from their airport and disinterested in just about everything else. The WWII hangar on the airport seems to be a stumbling block for Alpha Aviation as it is a giant unusable hangar in a prime location on the airport, but it CAN'T be torn down due to its "Heritage Status." I think they know full well that they won't make any money off of an aviation museum being in that big hangar, so they probably want to figure out a way to get rid of the hangar, and put up money making structures.
I wonder if Delta City Council would "give" the hangar to the CMF if we were to be able to find sponsors to flip the bill for the sprinkler/retardant system to be installed.
Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions for how to save this building, and possibly how we can get the CMF in there? It'll be sad to see that hangar come down, and to see an opportunity lost for the CMF to move to a better airport.
Cheers,
David
Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:15 am
Ok, so a little update.
From rumour, to more fact. I contacted Delta City Council and Alpha Aviation and both replied that there is absolutely no plans to demolish the hangar, and as the representative from Alpha Aviation put it "The hangar is a jewel" and it sure is.
Alpha A. actually seemed quite excited about my contacting them because I mentioned my interests in trying to get the Canadian Museum of Flight into the hangar (as long as it was economically feasable) and they want to schedule a meeting to discuss the future use of the hangar. It's vague right now, but somewhat hopeful.
-That's my little update on the situation.
Cheers,
David
From rumour, to more fact. I contacted Delta City Council and Alpha Aviation and both replied that there is absolutely no plans to demolish the hangar, and as the representative from Alpha Aviation put it "The hangar is a jewel" and it sure is.
Alpha A. actually seemed quite excited about my contacting them because I mentioned my interests in trying to get the Canadian Museum of Flight into the hangar (as long as it was economically feasable) and they want to schedule a meeting to discuss the future use of the hangar. It's vague right now, but somewhat hopeful.
-That's my little update on the situation.
Cheers,
David
That would be great Dave
Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:13 am
That would be great Dave
It's a great little museum and sadly they have very, very little space.
I would love to see the Hampden go indoors eventually.
Even as a shell, it is a great tribute to the type and the people that served.
Their current location is still a lot better than where they used to be before in an open field.
You have to credit these guys for being early preserver of Western Canadian heritage.
Best of lucks.
It's a great little museum and sadly they have very, very little space.
I would love to see the Hampden go indoors eventually.
Even as a shell, it is a great tribute to the type and the people that served.
Their current location is still a lot better than where they used to be before in an open field.
You have to credit these guys for being early preserver of Western Canadian heritage.
Best of lucks.
Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:42 pm
Hey David,
Did you see this article?
Brian....
Did you see this article?
Brian....
High sprinkler costs ground hangar plan
By Philip Raphael
South Delta Leader
praphael@southdeltaleader
Feb 16 2007
Plans to convert Boundary Bay Airport’s sole surviving hangar from the Second World War into an aviation museum is stalled on the takeoff runway.
Sandra Stoddardt-Hansen, president of airport leaseholder Alpha Aviation, told the South Delta Leader the idea proved too costly to make the 60,000-square-foot building suitable for accommodating “wet” aircraft.
Stoddardt-Hansen said a bid to fit the Delta heritage listed building—one of three that served during the airport’s role as the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the war—with a fire sprinkler system came back with a $1.8 million price tag.
The steep cost was mainly because it needed to be able to suppress a fire incident involving “wet” aircraft, those containing fuel and oil.
Stoddardt-Hansen added another reason for scuttling the plan was the concern a second, sizable flight-themed museum in the Lower Mainland could “throw the balance out” of historical collections.
Langley Airport has been home to the Canadian Museum of Flight since 1996. Prior to that the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation—a non-profit society since 1977—had a museum facility in Surrey.
With plans for the Boundary Bay Airport museum shelved, Alpha Aviation is looking at other possible uses for the building, keeping in mind its heritage designation prevents major changes to the structure’s appearance and use.
Still, the building is being proposed as a site for a restaurant, or support services for aviation-related businesses.
At the moment, plans are being made to move existing tenants from the hangar to new digs at the soon-to-be-completed, 40,000-square-foot maintenance facility nearby which is part of the plans for large scale re-development of the airport.
Delta Coun. Robert Campbell, chair of Delta’s airport advisory committee, said he felt the museum proposal was a long shot at best and understands Alpha Aviation’s need to make the hangar space economically viable.
Campbell added that whatever future plan for the site is chosen, he is confident the end use will be one that will bring the building up to current codes and help preserve it.
However, he thought it was unlikely that one of the past uses for the building—its incarnation as the Delta Ice Stadium from 1959 until 1971—could resurface.
“No, I think Delta is doing quite well in terms of how much ice we have compared to other communities to seriously consider that option,” Campbell said, laughing. “It’s funny how so many people’s first ice skating experience was in that building.”
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© Copyright 2007 South Delta Leader
Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:35 am
Hey Brian,
That's the first I have seen that article. It's very interesting. I have been meaning to have a meeting with Sandra Stoddard-Hansen, but because of being sick (that darn cold won't go away), as well as other "issues" I haven't been able to set a date for a meeting. I'm finally healthy now, so Mrs. Stoddard-Hansen and I can finally discuss the future use of the hangar.
I imagine with federal, provincial, municipal, and private sector could help raise the money required to put in a sprinkler system. It just takes effort, oh, and money. Then the CMF could move in. Like mentioned in the article, I had a feeling that they wanted to start a NEW museum, which, had it been put together, would have adversly effected the CMF.
I will let you and WIX know what unfolds from my meeting. First though, I need to buy a new car (my old one just kicked the bucket a few days ago), and once that is completed I can actually make my way to CZBB. Things are never easy when you're trying to change the world!
Cheers,
David
That's the first I have seen that article. It's very interesting. I have been meaning to have a meeting with Sandra Stoddard-Hansen, but because of being sick (that darn cold won't go away), as well as other "issues" I haven't been able to set a date for a meeting. I'm finally healthy now, so Mrs. Stoddard-Hansen and I can finally discuss the future use of the hangar.
I imagine with federal, provincial, municipal, and private sector could help raise the money required to put in a sprinkler system. It just takes effort, oh, and money. Then the CMF could move in. Like mentioned in the article, I had a feeling that they wanted to start a NEW museum, which, had it been put together, would have adversly effected the CMF.
I will let you and WIX know what unfolds from my meeting. First though, I need to buy a new car (my old one just kicked the bucket a few days ago), and once that is completed I can actually make my way to CZBB. Things are never easy when you're trying to change the world!
Cheers,
David