10 January 2008
Heritage Group Concerned About Sale of Historic Train Station by CPR
Canadian Pacific Railway Windsor
Station.
Montreal Quebec - As Canadian Pacific Railway moves closer
to selling historic Windsor Station in Montreal, a local heritage protection group is worried about what will happen after the sale
goes through.
A Canadian Pacific spokesman confirmed Thursday the railway is involved in negotiations, though no agreement has been signed.
"There's an interested party who is interested in buying the Windsor Station and development properties," Michel Spenard said.
"It's too early to say an agreement has been reached."
Montreal radio station CJAD is reporting the downtown landmark has been sold to George Gillett, owner of the National Hockey League's
Montreal Canadiens who play in the adjoining Bell Centre.
But Spenard played down the report, adding "we do not comment on rumours or speculation."
Dinu Bumbaru, a spokesman for Heritage Montreal, says he's worried about the building's fate because negotiations are going on behind
closed doors.
"It's shrouded in mystery and we can imagine the best, and the worst," he said.
Bumbaru, an architect, noted that at one point in the past, the historic site was even slated for demolition to make way for a parking
lot.
"It's currently protected under the federal Railway Heritage Stations Protection Act," he said. "But the moment it's
released as a Canadian Pacific Railway property it's no longer protected by the federal government."
Bumbaru suggested federal Environment Minister John Baird has a role to play because he is responsible for the law which protects the
structure.
Spenard assured the railway station's "heritage aspects will be protected whenever a final deal is signed."
Along with Windsor Station, several other pieces of Canadian Pacific real estate in the area are also up for sale, including the
station's office building, courtyard, the 15-storey Windsor Tower and an interest in the Bell Centre's parking garage.
Construction of the "chateau-style" railway station began in 1887 and was completed two years later.
It has been described as one of Canada's heritage jewels.
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