30 January 2006
Fate of Other Landmarks Up in Air
| |
|
Brandon - Heritage buildings dot the landscape of Brandon, reminding us of an earlier era in our history.
But many of them are vacant, and if we don't use them, we could lose them.
That would be a shame, according to Derrek Eberts, a geography professor at Brandon University and a member of the city's Municipal Heritage Advisory
Committee.
"They're a record of our history," he said. "They're a physical record of the origins of our community. And I think people have a
natural interest in where we've been, where we've come from."
The challenge with unused heritage buildings is striking a balance between preservation and development, Eberts said. If they remain vacant for too
long, they will fall into disrepair and eventually be demolished. But they could also face the wrecking ball if developers decide
they would rather start from scratch.
That happened to St. Michael's Academy last fall. The former private school was torn down and will be replaced by a new apartment complex for seniors.
The fate of several other historic Brandon buildings currently hangs in the balance. Among them:
CP Rail Station: The old Canadian Pacific Railway building on Pacific Avenue is still up for lease. Company officials have told the Brandon Sun
that they are seeking tenants who could put the building to good use. Meanwhile, CPR agreed last month to sell its old station in Minnedosa to a local
group of people who want to restore the building and maintain it as a heritage site.
|
