***CAVE PERSON ALERT***
High-rise condominium would mar Broadway area
heritage advocate
Pam Cradock, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Northern Paints building on Broadway Avenue has a rich history worth saving, says the Saskatoon Heritage Society, but some business owners argue replacing the building with a high-rise would improve the area.
The heritage society may be fi ghting a losing battle to preserve the building at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Ninth Street. The zoning for the land already permits high-density residential use and a private developer has drawn up plans for a 12-storey condominium development.
The company had originally planned for 17 or 18 storeys, but scaled back plans due to high construction costs.
Twelve storeys are still too many, said heritage society president Victoria Neufeldt. Neufeldt believes four storeys is the most the area can handle.
Neufeldt is also concerned that the new development requires demolishing the 77-year-old Northern Paints building.
One of fi ve similar structures built by Safeway in 1929, it's now one of three that are still standing, said Neufeldt. Mayfair Drugs on 33rd Street and the Pleasant Hill Bakery occupy the other two buildings, she said.
Architecturally, the building is fi lled with decorative Spanish villa touches, said Neufeldt. She said there are turrets at the roofl ine and clay roof tiles along the facade. The building has Tyndall stone, or "grey stone," that was also used in the creation of parts of the University of Saskatchewan campus, she said.
Neufeldt said much of the building's charm is hidden by siding, while paint has rendered the Tyndall stone unidentifi able. She doesn't know what kinds of repairs are needed, but thinks the structure could be reused or restored.
"But if that's not possible, it needs to be replaced with something that fits in," she said.
According to Neufeldt, rather than fi tting in with the charm of Broadway, the new condo highrise will "cast a shadow" on the neighbourhood. Its height will block the sunlight from residential backyards, she said.
"It (also) sets the precedent for further development of that sort," she said.
But Nutana Cafe owner Norm Thai likes the condo's design and said it will bring more people to the area. As well, the Northern Paints site is ugly, he said.
"It's dead down there," said Thai.
"I think (a new development) will be better for business." Nino Agioritis, owner of Nino's Restaurants, said it was "about time somebody put something (like that) in the area." "Broadway's a nice neighbourhood. It's a great place for (development)," said Agioritis, who's excited about the possibilities the condominium could bring.
The Nutana Community Association will hold an open meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 to discuss Broadway's zoning, the development and its effects on the surrounding neighbourhoods.
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Knock the f*$^&#g peace on s@#t down and please build the condo!!
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