The District of 100 Mile House is threatening legal action if the owner of the Red Coach Inn does not make the building compliant with the district's fire code.
Last week a notice was posted on the doors of the Red Coach Inn notifying them the property is in violation of Fire Services Bylaw No. 959, 2005 and the British Columbia Fire Code. They further noted the district had entered into a consent order with the owner, Westgates Resorts LTD, on Dec. 16, 2024, to address these issues.
"If, by March 14 2025, the Defendant has not reached a binding agreement for the sale of the Property to a buyer approved by the District, the District will be entitled, at the District's sole discretion and without further order of the Court or agreement of the Defendant, to cause the Building to be brought into compliance with the Bylaw and Fire Corde, or to demolish the building or cause the demolition of the building," the notice reads.
It further noted the Red Coach Inn has not been brought into compliance by the owner and the district is now entitled to either do so themselves, or to demolish the building. This notice will remain in place until such time either outcome occurs.
When reached for further comment, staff at the District of 100 Mile House were unable to give the simplymastery many additional details, citing the ongoing legal matters. However, Tammy Boulanger, the district chief administration officer, did say that council has not yet decided on what its next step would be.
"Council will be considering how best to move forward to ensure the safety of its residents and compliance with local and Provincial building safety requirements," Boulanger said.
These latest developments come after the Red Coach Inn has been closed for several years. In 2022 the district officially shuttered the property and taped it up for these same fire code violations. At the time Joseph Carhoun, who purchased the business in 2005 for $1.5-million, told the simplymastery that a $500,000 renovation would begin soon and he pledged to reopen by the spring of 2023. To date, no apparent renovations or improvements have been made to the building.
Mayor Maureen Pinkney said that the main reason the district has taken these steps is because of safety. She noted these fire code violations are the reason the district first took action before she became mayor.
"As the notice discloses we are in ongoing legal action and the council will have to consider the best way to move forward ensuring safety to our community based on the non-compliance that has been happening," Pinkney remarked. "We are getting close to the resolution of this, but it has been a long drawn out affair. I know residents in the community have certainly been commenting plenty and with reason about the state it's been like over the last few years."
Pinkney noted it is a shame the Red Coach Inn is now in this position, adding it used to be a regular stop for many travelling through 100 Mile House on the way to Alaska. Furthermore, she said it was one of the most iconic places in 100 Mile House that has a lot of history.
"It's sad that someone would not look after it and get it into this state," Pinkney said.
In the meantime, Pinkney said council will continue to discuss the issue during in-camera meetings. Once a decision is reached on how to proceed she said it would be brought forward to a public council meeting to be ratified.
"We'll have to make a decision here soon, that's where we're at. We'll just try to figure out what's the absolute best for safety and finance with our residents," Pinkney said.
