Forget York House, here's a building that needs to be saved...
Sale may be close for local train station
HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday June 20th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
There could be good news on the horizon for the old Fredericton train station on York Street.
Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said there is ongoing talks between a private-sector interest and the historic building's owners, J.D. Irving Ltd.
"It's a private deal that's being worked on. The city is not involved," Woodside said. "They're very close."
Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services at city hall, said he's optimistic the city will be asked about the property's redevelopment, but an application hasn't yet come to the city.
"We're hoping to receive that shortly," he said.
Woodside said he's optimistic that negotiations will reach a successful result.
"One of the happiest days for me will be when that train station issue has been addressed. It's been there and dragged on far too long and it's long overdue," Woodside said.
A spokesperson for J.D. Irving couldn't be reached Tuesday for comment.
The company has long maintained that it would look at restoring the building if it has a viable business redevelopment plan for the property and its surrounding lands.
A proposal for an office complex to house call-centre offices for a Canadian bank was the best prospect for saving the structure.
But that venture collapsed when the call-centre proponents opted to lease office space in Kings Place mall downtown, rather than participate in the Irving proposal for a new downtown office centre.
Heritage Canada Foundation has placed the York Street train station on Top 10 endangered places list.
The building is designated under the heritage Railway Station Protection Act of 1985. While that bars its owners from deliberately demolishing the structure, nothing in the legislation requires an owner to maintain a minimum standard.
The station's roof is deteriorating and the city required Irving to fence the building because of concern about the building's condition.
A few years ago, a structural anlysis suggested that apart from the roof, most of the building is in good condition.
Fredericton Heritage Trust, Fredericton Trails Coalition and a local group called Friends of the Fredericton Railway have been working to preserve the 1923 Canadian Pacific Railway station. It's one of the last remaining brick stations in New Brunswick.