Endangered Heritage

Looking into the Fredericton Train Station renewal I discovered that this property was put on the 2005 “Heritage Canada Foundation Top 10 Most Endangered Places List.”

The 2005 list includes two Atlantic Canada locations – the train station and Citadel Views and Historic District, Halifax, NS.

Here are the 2005 Atlantic list entries:

Towers Threaten Citadel Views and Historic District, Halifax, Nova Scotia

United Gulf Development Ltd. has applied for a development agreement to permit the construction of two 27-storey towers on the site bounded by Hollis, Sackville and Granville Streets in downtown Halifax that, if constructed, would threaten a historic district and views to the landmark Citadel Hill.

City council recently approved in principle the designation of the city's first planned heritage district, the Barrington heritage conservation district, made up of 26 low-scale registered heritage buildings about one-eighth the height of the proposed towers that would overshadow the area (the density would be three times greater than allowed in the high density residential R-3 zone in Halifax). The proposal also contravenes policies of the Municipal Development Plan including those that protect views from Citadel Hill and stipulate that new construction should “reinforce” the proportions of adjacent heritage buildings.

The heritage community has come out strongly against the plan and although the city's heritage advisory committee has recommended against the project to city council, the planning department is in favour of the development. The matter now goes before city council on February 28. Should the city support the development the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia will likely appeal the decision to the utility and review board.

York Street Train Station, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Once a busy transportation hub, today Fredericton's York Street railway station stands abandoned and dilapidated. Its windows are boarded up, its roof is in serious disrepair, the decorative brackets are rotten, and much of the brickwork has been vandalized with spray paint.

In response to such deterioration and the apparent neglect by its current owners, J.D. Irving Limited, the Friends of the Fredericton Railway, a small community group of architects, engineers and developers, was established to raise community support and financial assistance to restore the1923 Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) station – one of only two railway stations left on the Fredericton Branch Line and one of the last remaining brick stations in New Brunswick.

Working together with the Fredericton Heritage Trust and the Fredericton Trails Coalition the Friends have developed a business plan for the station that identifies a cost of $1.5 million to bring the station back to its former condition. The plan includes the involvement of J.D. Irving Limited but despite numerous communications with them over the last two years, the group is no closer to achieving its goal of restoring the station. The City of Fredericton has shown some commitment by purchasing portions of the right of way leading to the station.

Currently, the city is in negotiations with an undisclosed source and the Friends have not met for several months.

The Heritage Railway Station Protection Act of 1985, has done much to protect Canadian railway stations, but it cannot protect them from demolition by neglect. This station is deteriorating rapidly and needs the support of the community, the city, and most importantly its owner before it is too late.

The 2009 list includes the Moncton High School:

Moncton High School is one of hundreds of historic schools from the first half of the 20th century that are under siege in communities across Canada.

The future of this landmark building—an outstanding example of Normandy Gothic Revival style architecture in New Brunswick—is at risk due to the province’s lack of commitment to maintain and invest in existing schools.

Why it matters
Moncton High School (MHS) was built to last. The cornerstone was laid for this imposing 3-storey sandstone structure in 1934, and its arched bays and massive wood entrance doors have seen thousands of students come and go over the years. The school’s character is further revealed in the wood panelling, carvings, vaulted plaster ceilings and other historic details that abound throughout the building.

Known as “the castle” it is considered to be one of the most important architectural landmarks in downtown Moncton and a symbol of permanence in the city.

Why it’s endangered
In September 2007 the District Education Council (DEC) requested a complete Master Plan for “major upgrades, renovations and /or replacement of Moncton High.” The resulting document, released in January 2009, acknowledges the building’s uniqueness and recognizes that much of the original exterior and interior elements and craftsmanship should remain intact. In particular, the auditorium, with its seating area, balcony, stage and decorative finishes in place, is singled out for its heritage value and identified as a space that should not be modified. However, the report goes on to recommend extensive and costly renovations to the building, amounting to $48 million. Conversely, construction of a new facility has been estimated at $25 million.

New schools are expected to have a life cycle of 30 years. MHS has already served the community for 75 years, and is made of materials with many more years of service life. The $25 million cost estimate for a new school does not include many elements that exist at MHS, such as the auditorium. Economics aside, the environmental impact of abandoning this building and replacing it with a new structure would be staggering.

While the decision about the future of MHS rests with the Province, Moncton City Council has come out firmly on the side of “protect and preserve.” In February it unanimously passed a resolution urging the provincial government to “take all reasonable steps” to restore MHS and to let the community have its say on the future of the building.
Where things stand

Moncton’s Heritage Preservation Review Board is raising awareness about the significance of the building and the need for public consultation. The Board hired Jim Bezanson, a professional planner and architectural consultant, to review the structural investigation component of the Master Plan. His findings, which question the extent of costly structural changes recommended, were presented to the DEC and School District 2 in June 2009. As a result, the staff recommendations in favour of new construction presented to the DEC that evening have been removed from the table. The DEC chair has asked staff to “go back to the drawing board.”

The Save Moncton High School Facebook Group is rallying students, teachers, alumni and concerned citizens to work towards finding solutions which would help save this historic landmark.

The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rothesay, New Brunswick is listed as one of the “2008 Worst Losses”:

PAVED PARADISE FOR A PARKING LOT
After more than 60 years of service, the old church was torn down last June to make way for a parking lot to service the new church built across the street. “We need more parking so we decided that it might be a better use of the space,” explained Rev. Michel LeBlanc. Historic places of faith are in danger across North America.