25 June 2007
Roundhouse Plan Panned
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Protesters state their case, Monday.
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Toronto Ontario - A group of CPR pensioners protested
yesterday plans to allow furniture giant Leon's to move into the historic CPR roundhouse instead of establishing a large railway
museum.
The city's Culture Division hired a developer to look for tenants for the building, which is on the city's waterfront by the CN Tower,
and Leon's has signed on the dotted line to move in by the fall of 2008.
"I have nothing against Leon's, but it isn't appropriate for a heritage site," said Raymond Kennedy, who worked at the CPR
roundhouse in the 1950s.
"This is a tourist area. The store doesn't fit in. When CPR gave this site to the city, it did so on the understanding it would
become a railway museum."
The roundhouse was built in 1929 to service passenger locomotives.
There are three bays at the roundhouse set aside for a museum, but critics say that isn't enough space for a proper venue.
"This is a heritage site and the city has mishandled things. It was supposed to be turned into a museum and this is a terrible
neglect of our rail heritage," Kennedy said. "Canada was built by the railways and our children aren't aware how important
the railways are to our history. This is a loss for everyone in Toronto. It has the potential to be a major tourist attraction."
Part of the roundhouse is occupied by Steam Whistle Brewing, which has 60,000 visitors a year.
"Our tour guides understand railway history and we would like to be involved in an expansion for a museum," said Greg Taylor,
co-owner of Steam Whistle.
Taylor's plan would include tours during the day and host event venues in the evenings to help cover the costs of the museum.
Steam Whistle already hosts about 35 weddings a year.
"People want to get married at a national heritage site... there is so much more that we could do."
Taylor also fears the adjacent park may be turned into a parking lot to serve the furniture store.
Leon's president and CEO Terry Leon says there is already adequate underground parking at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
"We are going to restore the building into even better condition. We will do our best to make the heritage building look as good
as new," Leon said.
The store will only be a show room and deliveries will be made from other locations.
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