12 April 2006
Royal Beer Can
Folly
Word on the railfan street says the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Victoria Roundhouse
(Russells Roundhouse) and the land it rests upon has been sold by Canadian Pacific Railway to a developer from
Calgary. Judging from the slick brochure handed out at a public relations meeting held on the roundhouse grounds this
evening there seems to be little hope for railfans, heritage buffs, and historians that a vibrant railway museum will
ever arise at this location.
Conceptual drawings published in their brochure indicate modifications to the roundhouse may turn it into a
"Royal Beer Can Folly". No kidding, that's what is says on their brochure! It shows a giant beer can
sticking out of the roundhouse roof... really... bring on the clowns.
A building concept plan in the brochure shows the intentions of the developer. More high-density
residential towers next to the already existing high-rise developments on the Songhees.
For this evenings shindig fresh gravel paths were prepared on the site and large white tents erected to hold several
easels with conceptual drawings, most the same as shown in their brochure. There was also fruit drinks, coffee, and
hot appetizers served free of charge. Thanks to who ever picked up the tab, or is that whom ever?
So... if you own a condo in Songhees you'll probably be very happy to see this development as that ugly little rail
yard keeping down your property value is about to disappear. If you're a heritage buff you should feel sad about a
lost opportunity for these heritage buildings. If you're a Victoria developer you can also feel sad because someone
out of Calgary beat you to the punch. Here comes that Alberta building boom.
 P.S. The
developer has a web site named: roundhousevictoria.com which contains an Adobe .pdf file of
the complete brochure. I can't find the name of the developer mentioned anywhere. "Royal Beer Can
Folly"... no wonder his/her name doesn't appear anywhere.
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