25 September 2008
Councillor Says Owners of Old Train Station Haven't Given Up
Frederiction New Brunswick - Deputy mayor Tony Whalen says
the owners of the York Street train station aren't abandoning hope it can be salvaged.
Whalen and Coun. Stephen Chase met with a J.D. Irving Ltd. representative Tuesday to discuss the issue.
The city's planning and priorities committee meets Monday to discuss the station's future.
"I think the Irvings just wanted to update us on the status of the train station, what they've been doing and what they've been
trying to do and what their hopes are for the train station," said Whalen on Wednesday.
"I believe at this point, they really don't want to give up on the facility yet. They'd like to see something done with it."
Mayor Brad Woodside kicked a hornet's nest recently when he issued a public challenge to the railway station's corporate owners - fix
it up or tear it down.
Since Woodside vented about the deteroriating roof, calling the building an embarrassment and an eyesore, public interest in saving the
structure has been rejuvenated.
"I think they're (J.D. Irving) hopeful something might come to fruition in the coming months," Whalen said.
With the roof timbers propped up by two-by-fours, Whalen said the structure won't do well this winter if there's heavy
snowfall.
J.D. Irving restated its willingness to donate all the materials required to repair the roof, including the specialized roof trusses
needed for the building.
"But it has to be installed by somebody," Whalen said.
Perhaps that's where governments could start talking with each other about the labour component or seek the assistance of Canadian
Forces Base Gagetown's engineers, Whalen said.
"I think we need to explore the possibilities with the federal government, the provincial government, and all the stakeholders
again. Maybe it's time we all got together and figured out a way to save this building.
"If nothing happens, we have to at least work towards getting it demolished," he said.
It's not that the city wants to see the station go, Whalen said.
He said given the building's heritage designation, it's a complicated process to obtain permission to remove it.
"You have to petition the Governor General of Canada and it has to be the owner of the building that does that," he said.
"I don't believe they're willing to do that at this point because they're still holding out for some type of a development
proposal that may save the building."
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