1 May 2010

Refurbishment Gets Official Go-Ahead

The Fredericton York Street station.

Ottawa Ontario - The federal cabinet has given formal approval for rehabilitation work to the York Street train station.
 
In an authorization issued 22 Apr 2010 and obtained from the Privy Council Office in Ottawa, the government gave Fredericton Railway Company the go-ahead to proceed with work on the building that has languished for years.
 
The front portion of the historic station owned by J.D. Irving Ltd. is being refurbished as part of a commercial development for NB Liquor.
 
The federal cabinet approved the work under a number of conditions.
 
The rehabilitation work is to consist of the rehabilitation of the original 1923 railway station, the partial demolition of the 1940s baggage wing, and the construction of a new building attached to the original railway station.
 
But before undertaking the work, the company must submit final detailed plans to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada for review and approval.
 
The rehabilitation work must also be completed in accordance with existing regulations for heritage sites.
 
"We have let the people in Fredericton know the request for modifications has been approved in principle, we still need to see their plans," said Julie Dompierre, executive secretary to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
 
Dompierre said the board has been in contact with developers for months.
 
"There has been some back and forth and we haven't seen any final plans."
 
The company must obtain final approval from the board, Dompierre said.
 
"They can't move ahead until we have seen the final plans."
 
Emergency work to replace the federally designated landmark's roof was completed over the winter.
 
City council gave final approval in late January for zoning changes that will allow for the construction of an NB Liquor outlet as an annex to the refurbished York Street train station.
 
The annex is necessary to make the refurbishment of the train station financially viable, J.D. Irving Ltd. said.
 
NB Liquor is aiming to have the store open in late summer.
 
Heritage experts, engineers, and architects with the federal government will review the final proposal for the building as part of the approval process.
 
Shawn Berry.