Quote:
Originally Posted by brannelford
I'd really love to be proven wrong, but my gut tells me that this is yet another instance whereby Saskatoon's heritage will be sold out from under it. From what I understand: "Members of the Third Avenue United Church congregation say they're upset and shocked by their board's choice to sell the Saskatoon cathedral to a new non-profit organization led by engineer John Orr" ...per the Star-Phoenix
I used to live in Saskatoon, so I still follow events in this city, but admittedly, not on a daily basis. As such, I don't understand, if the members of Third Avenue United Church supported the TAC bid, then why did John Orr's bid win?
My gut tells me that Saskatoon's latent, but vocal and puritanical segment of the population is showing is ugly face once again in this zeal for a Bible College. [Yes, I realize the irony in my saying that when we're talking about a church]. But again, I come back to wondering why the TAC bid was turned down, especially after being given support by members of the Third Avenue United Church.
Church board secretary Philip Bray said Orr has a good reputation as a landlord. "I hope John Orr is a man of his word," he said. Like several other members who questioned Barnacle, (Helen) Few wonders if the congregation's right to use the cathedral and its basement rooms will be guaranteed and whether the church pews and pipe organ will remain. "The Third Avenue Centre made its business plan public to demonstrate its long-term viability, will Mr. Orr do the same?"
So... based on Saskatoon's sketchy past with regard to preserving the historical integrity in its buidlings, here are my predictions: - Orr will not be a man of his word (the fact Philip Bray even mentions this suggests there is already doubt in some people's minds)
- the pews and pipe organs will disappear... as inevitably someone in Orr's organization will bring into question the structural integrity of these pieces of history, so they will need to be gotten rid of
- in replacement of the pews and pipe organs, the core of the building will be gutted and subdivided into bible-school classrooms, much in the same way that century-old-houses are gutted and subdivided into cheap rooming house apartments
- the only concerts I predict to be held at the Third Avenue United Church will be Christmas pageants, Easter remembrances, and the odd gospel music concert and prayer session held by some travelling televangelist from the southern USA.
Again - I'd love to be proven wrong on these counts... just given Saskatoon's track record, I'm not holding my breath.
(Capital Theatre, the old Iron Bridge, dozens of 100-yr old buildings turned to gravel parking lots, etc.) |
You could very well be right on points 1, 2, and 4. I suspect he's definitively moved on from wanting to turn it into a new Western Christian College, and I think that anyone in their right mind wouldn't ever even thought that in the first place judging on the the building as is vs. school/institutional code (fire exits, etc).
However, from what I understand of heritage designation in the city (and someone please inform me if it's otherwise), it only counts for the building's exterior. So the pews and (I shudder to think) the pipe organ may be in jeopardy. Additionally, I worry that the fact that it is an incredible
acoustic venue will count for little and it will be miced (for the gospel concerts and prayer sessions you've envisioned). This too would be a shame. The Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki (whose show is the last it seems TAC will ever put on there) said the acoustics are better in the building than at the Salle Pleyel in Paris.
As for why the congregation supported TAC yet the Orr bid was chosen, that's the question the congregation seems to be demanding of its board. Peter Barnacle (head of the board) has been quoted in the paper in the last few days saying that the Orr bid was "significantly higher" and that it will "allow the congregation to flourish" for years to come. So I would say money is the reason. Particularly alarming considering this is a board that represents a religious body (which it has pissed off, apparently). Money is more important than the "flock", I guess.
If it sounds like I'm pissed off too, you're right. I've been to many concerts there in the last two years because of the good work TAC was doing bringing in great artists, both local and international. Upon my first time in the building, I fell in love with it (fairly easy to do). I am convinced thoroughly that TAC and its members have a vision for the building that is sympathetic to its history and its congregation, and was a perfect fit for the building, its users, and the city. Now it's lost for... well I hope we'll find out soon, but even when we do find out, it will be something less than what TAC was proposing, in my opinion. I think the congregation board made a terrible, terrible decision.
Prev
.
Third Avenue United Church
Linear Mode
