847 replies to this topic

[LJ]

Missing. Can't issue a death certificate without a cause of death (see the bizarre case of Laura Babcock, who was murdered according to the courts but has not been declared dead)

She has now.

 

https://toronto.ctvn...icate-1.4552013

[Victoria Watcher]

Sherwood’s insurance covers all the assets which were inside the building: things like chairs, sinks and massage beds, but not the cost of restorations or renovations. While the building owner is responsible for basic infrastructural repairs, the bill for business-specific renovations in the 6,000-sq. ft. space falls on Sherwood.

 

The bill, she said, will sit in the millions.

 

https://www.vicnews....f-pandora-fire/

 

must be a pretty profitable business to survive that.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 November 2019 - 04:35 PM.

[Nparker]

If this site becomes a hotel again, please tell me it will be named "The Phoenix"
 

The scarred site where the former Plaza Hotel sat in downtown Victoria will likely become a hotel again, according to the site developer...According to the building's developer, Mike Askew, the future of the empty site in the heart of downtown Victoria will likely be a hotel.“It would be franchised,” Askew told CTV Vancouver Island. “There are numerous hotel franchises that are pursuing the downtown site — international brands.”...

https://www.iheartra...oper-1.10252339

 

[Redd42]

 

Sherwood’s insurance covers all the assets which were inside the building: things like chairs, sinks and massage beds, but not the cost of restorations or renovations. While the building owner is responsible for basic infrastructural repairs, the bill for business-specific renovations in the 6,000-sq. ft. space falls on Sherwood.

 

The bill, she said, will sit in the millions.

 

 

Odd that the owner didn't choose to insure their betterments? 

[Mike K.]

UPDATE | Plaza Hotel Fire Investigation

Victoria, BC – VicPD’s Major Crime Unit Detectives are announcing that they have exhausted all investigative avenues into the Plaza Hotel fire. This file will remain open, however, after a lengthy and coordinated effort there are currently no new leads to pursue.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on May 6th, 2019, Patrol officers received a report that the Victoria Fire Department (VFD) was battling a structure fire in the 600-block of Pandora Avenue. Officers attended the scene and provided traffic control to ensure that pedestrian and vehicle traffic remained safe in the area.

The building that was on fire was formerly known as the Century Plaza Hotel, located at 603 Pandora Avenue. The fire fully engulfed the five-story building and continued for several days. The majority of the structure was destroyed. VFD used an excavator to knock down the remaining walls and structure of the building to prevent a subsequent collapse and further risk to public safety.

On May 13th, 2019, detectives with VicPD’s Major Crime Unit took control of the scene from VFD. VFD advised VicPD that the fire was suspicious. VicPD detectives executed a search warrant on the building site once the fire was under control and the scene was safe. The search took approximately 10 days to complete and required the use of excavators working in a grid pattern to search for evidence. Detectives determined that this fire was an arson.

The building was known to be unoccupied, except for the lone occupant, caretaker, Mr. Michael Draeger. Despite an exhaustive search, Mr. Draeger has never been found, leading investigators to the possibility that he may have perished in the fire. The file will remain classified as an arson. The missing person file associated to Mr. Draeger will remain an open and active investigation.

To date, this has required an extraordinary amount of time and attention, and collaboration across agencies. VicPD would like to thank our partners at the Victoria Fire Department and the City of Victoria. We would also like to thank Ralmax Group of Companies, who provided construction crews to operate the heavy machinery needed for this extensive investigation. Finally, we would like to thank our community members. This investigation was lengthy and inconvenienced day-to-day life for many in the downtown core. Thank you for your patience and understanding as this investigation took place.

Detectives will continue to pursue any new leads. If you have information about the Plaza Hotel fire, or any information on the disappearance or whereabouts of Mr. Draeger, you are asked to call our non-emergency line at (250) 995-7654. Press #1 to speak with the report desk. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

[Victoria Watcher]

the update is there is no update.

except that we may not have sifted the debris thoroughly enough to figure out if a dead guy was among the ashes.

[Mike K.]

Cadaver dogs would have picked up a scent, presumably?

[Nparker]

So where does this leave the owner of the property and future redevelopment plans?

[Greg]

I would have thought determining if there were human remains in a fire investigation was something that could be successfully resolved in a fairly routine manner. However, after spending a couple of minutes reading about this on the internet (or what Victoria Watcher considers as "becoming an expert"), I see that this is really not the case. It is apparently very difficult to do, and remains can often be overlooked, or even mishandled in a way to make them undetectable pretty easily. 

 

I hope budding murderer/arsonists don't realize that this is the case.

 

 

/I suppose the existence of crematoriums should have been a clue that the body can be reduced to dust if the temperature is high enough.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Victoria Police Department has named the Plaza Hotel’s live-in caretaker as a suspect in the arson investigation.

Police named Michael Draeger a suspect during a virtual press conference on Thursday.

 

 

https://www.vicnews....ire-says-vicpd/

[Rob Randall]

the update is there is no update.

except that we may not have sifted the debris thoroughly enough to figure out if a dead guy was among the ashes.

 

That's what I was thinking. After 9/11 they put the entire Twin Towers on a conveyor belt. Experts were picking teeth out of there. I have a feeling our investigators weren't that thorough.

[Jackerbie]

That's what I was thinking. After 9/11 they put the entire Twin Towers on a conveyor belt. Experts were picking teeth out of there. I have a feeling our investigators weren't that thorough.

 

And despite that remains of something like 40% of the victims have not been identified

[Nparker]

It's been 2 years since the fire. I wonder when something might actually happen at this site.

[Victoria Watcher]

a new stripper bar might be exactly what we need to get out of this COVID funk.  imagine the pent-up demand.  it's the kind of stimulus lots of people will be looking for.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 May 2021 - 08:40 AM.

[Nparker]

I'll just be happy when people can finally strip off their #%&@ face masks once and for all.

[Barrrister]

Most people I know look a lot better with the face masks.

[Mike K.]

Lol..,

[Victoria Watcher]

DRA:

 

 

https://www.victoria...02d47e2a704.pdf

 

 

The re-development of the former Century Plaza Hotel (which was poised for redevelopment before being burned down a few years ago) is now under very preliminary discussion (between proponents and staff) with the possibility of that site being developed as a hotel and training facility involving parcipaon by some local indigenous groups. It is possible that an increase in height and density will be requested. A number of other large developments are coming forward – the former Ingraham Hotel being one.

[Mike K.]

Is that the Super 8 site?

[Victoria Watcher]

Century Plaza and Ingraham definitely 80’s or 90’s names for those two.

Pretty sure Century became Victoria Plaza by 1995.