On Saturday, the building on the Fraser Highway Oneway in Downtown Langley City, which was the home of the Viva Mexico Restaurant, Olive Physiotherapy, Harmony Animal Training Facility, and several professional services businesses on the building's 2nd floor, burned to this ground. This 1950s-era building had many renovations over the years (some documented and others not), including before robust fire safety design and systems were in place. The relentless efforts of the Langley City and Township firefighters contained this fire to one building in this historic part of our community.
It is unknown at this time what caused the fire.
Water and smoke damage has also impacted other businesses in the area. There has been an outpouring of support for the small businesses impacted by the fire, with people asking how they can help.
The number one thing you can do is continue shopping and eating in Downtown Langley City and encourage your friends to do so as well.
The Downtown Langley Business Associate is working with impacted business owners to provide information on how people in the community can support impacted businesses. Please watch the DLBA's website and social media, which I have linked below, for further information.
Website:
https://www.downtownlangley.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/discoverdowntownlangley/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/downtownlangleybusinessassociation
The Fraser Highway Oneway is the heart of our community. While this fire saddens me, I also feel a strong sense of pride as our community comes together and continues supporting those small businesses.
3 comments:
This was felt throughout the entire community on Saturday. Definitely a heart breaking scene, and brought back memories of the Value Village fire of 2022. As the lot is cleared, and I’m sure to be redeveloped - I wonder if the developer would consider commercial space for any of the businesses lost. My only concern is that the rent will have gone up and may not be as affordable for those businesses to hold the space once again. Let’s say if the future space was ready to be occupied in 3 years, those businesses may have already found new spaces. Nonetheless, when the lot is redeveloped, it will set a precedent for the one-way to come, much like the lot at the beginning of the one way.
Perhaps the property at the beginning of "the one way" could be purchased and used as a Green Space. Develop Innes Corners if the need for tax dollars is dire, but purchasing the Court Ordered sale property might be a good move, for the future.
Was the destroyed building built in 1968? Buildings on the south side are MUCH older and smaller lots. A fire on that side would be much harder to contain to one building?
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