A Fernie family is speaking out against a proposal to build a gymnasium in downtown Fernie on a public parking lot that they gifted to the City through a covenant 32 years ago.
The Fernie Academy has proposed a gymnasium be built downtown on 402 and 422 3 Ave. in order to accommodate recreational sports teams and phys-ed classes that were displaced by the closure of the Fernie Community Centre last year, however they have also indicated the public would be able to use the space as well.
Both plots of land are currently parking lots that are owned by the City, and one of them (located behind Edge of the World and Green Petal), was given to the city by the Quails.
Sharon Quail and family have expressed concerns over the project and its potential impact to free public parking, and stated they'd like to see the covenant upheld to honour their late father Douglas' wishes.
Quail appeared before council on Dec. 17 over concerns about the project and she read letters from her siblings Bruce and Sandra that expressed similar sentiments.
Quail has entered into discussion with City council on the matter, and the project will be brought back to a future meeting for further consideration.
Quail told the Free Press that her father established the covenant in 1993, to ensure the City would keep the land as free parking. She said the agreement was reached following written complaints from local business owners about a lack of public parking in the downtown core at the time.
She said she's concerned that dedicating a portion of the lot to recreation would result in less visitor and tourist traffic to downtown businesses, and put pressure on a city that has been afflicted by limited public parking in the past. She explained that her father created the covenant to help local businessowners bring in money, and she doesn't think a gymnasium would serve this interest.
"It's in our town's best interest," she said. " ... In good faith, my dad's paid the taxes. If that isn't a gift, I don't know what is. I think the council and City Hall should honour that."
"[Council] they're making the decisions, but they've got to remember who voted them in. It's the people of the town who make Fernie, and the heritage," she added.
The covenant on the parking lot will expire in another eight years, and Quail said she would be ok with the City pursuing the project after this time is up. But for now, she said she'd like to see her father's memory live on, and leave the space as he intended it, to keep his promise to the local businesses.
"The City has abided by the covenant for 32 years, why take it away for the last eight?," she queried. "The city council should respect the next eight years."
She added that her father was made aware of plans for a gymnasium a decade ago, when he was asked to sign a letter of support, but he was not in favour of the proposal.
Ultimately it's the location, not the project that she objects to.
"I think it's a great concept, just not there," she said.
Quail's family has had a long footprint in local development in Fernie, having lived in the area since 1897. Her family built the Royal Hotel and rebuilt the Fernie Hotel.
Her father Douglas took over the family businesses in 1969 after her grandfather passed away. She said her father was very involved in civic life and was known for being generous, loaning money to residents during the mine strikes in the 70s so they wouldn't lose their homes.
From 1969 up until the covenant was established in 1993, her father paid to have the parking lot plowed and maintained, and he paid the taxes on it so it would be free for all residents. He also paid to have a public parking sign established.
"That's kind of who my dad was and he's very much for the residents and the merchants," she recalled.
