Posted May 16, 2014, 12:23 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: St. John's, Newfoundland
Posts: 265
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from VOCM
Quote:
Removal of Colonial Building Trees Causing Uproar
Friday , May 16 2014 | 9:36:06 AM
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The Minister of Tourism says the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador was heavily involved in the Colonial Building restoration project. Sandy Collins says the foundation reviewed and approved all aspects of the $22-million project. The land fronting the historic building has been cleared over the last couple of months, including the removal of some old mature trees which has some area residents upset. The City of St. John's says it was consulted by the province, but ultimately it had no say. The land is owned by the province, so government didn't need municipal approval.
The Colonial Building was the home of government and the House of Assembly from 1850 to 1959. The $22-million restoration project will transform the building into an interpretation centre and bring the grounds back to its original landscape --removing the fountain and trees, and developing a small hill leading to the steps with the grounds surrounded by a wrought iron fence.
Minister Collins says trees had to be removed to allow easier access for construction vehicles. He says while removing and replanting may sound like a good option, in this case he says it wasn't realistic. Collins says given the expansion root system of trees this old it would be near impossible to replant the trees and have them take root in a new home. The idea he says was to return the building back to its original state so that means no trees and a fence.
Liberal MHA Tom Osborne says the original design would also include gas lamps, with no plumbing or electricity. Osborne argues the trees should have stayed and the city of St. John's consulted. Osborne says he supports the restoration project but says there's limits.
George Chalker, who is on the board for the restoration of the building, says the removal was necessary for the project, to return the land back to its original slope. Chalker is also with the Heritage Foundation, but would only speak to his experience with the restoration board. He says another reason the province removed the trees was in order to fill a request from the city to keep the fence from blocking the view of drivers at that intersection. He says they are attempting to comply with the city's wishes. But the trees are really being moved to comply with restoring the slope of the building.
St. John's City Councilor Dave Lane says the plan for the restoration was brought to Council many months ago by the Heritage Department. Lane says that given the state of public engagement on these types of issues in this day and age, this may be a good lesson for future government projects. He says that given today's response to the trees coming down, a communications plan may help going forward. He says a monthly update on projects such as this may help prevent surprises after the work has already been done.
Meanwhile, Ward 2 Councilor Jonathan Galgay is questioning the effectiveness of the Heritage Advisory Committee following the removal of dozens of mature trees from the grounds of Colonial Building. Many in the area were shocked when they saw the majestic trees being chopped down as restoration work on the site gets underway. The intent, according to Culture Minister Sandy Collins, is to return the site to the way it was when it was built, and that was without trees. Others feel there was a way to incorporate the trees into the park-like setting. Galgay says there are a number of recent cases that show the committee is not as effective as it could be.
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What's worse is the thought that a fence of all things will probably be going back. I understand heritage, but this may be a bit extreme.
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