Former Moose Jaw city councillor Glenda James, who spoke at the Jan. 29 hearing against the possible repeal of The Brunswick Hotel's heritage status, said she was thrilled with the Saskatchewan Heritage Property Review Board's (SHPRB) recommendation.
James said the SHPRB's recommendation confirms what she has been trying to say since she discovered the developer's plans back in October.
"I think it is positively wrong to even consider de-designating this building."
She said the whole reason the Brunswick was designated a heritage site in the first place is because it was considered special and important.
Adding, to disregard that "is just the wrong thing to do."
However, James was disappointed by the recommendations made in the report to council about what to do if it decides to go ahead and repeal the hotel's designation.
She said the city should be stepping up to save Moose Jaw's heritage sites and educating others on how to do the same.
"My favourite part of the review board's report was when it said 'The City of Moose Jaw should be a better steward of its rich heritage resources.'"
James said if council decides to disregard the SHPRB's recommendations and move ahead with the de-designation, "then (it is) being foolish and short-minded."
Adding, to do so council would have to prove the property has no heritage value and doesn't see how it could possibly come to that conclusion and be able to justify it afterwards.
However, if the project is to go forward and the exterior of the Brunswick were to be preserved, something suggested by the board, James said: "I don't feel it is enough but at least it is something."
Lyndsay McCready can be reached
at 691-1256.
James pleased with main recommendation but concerned with options for demolition of Brunswick
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- Published on March 3rd, 2009
- Published on July 10th, 2009
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Lyndsay McCready
Times-Herald
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Comments
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- June
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:35:54
NO ONE stepped up to save Providence Hospital...but bend over backwards to save a building where people congregated with no other purpose in mind but to get wasted....go figure.
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- Patty
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:16:39
Jeez, I was hoping that I would never hear the name 'Glenda James' again in my lifetime. Darn!!
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- Jamaal
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:17:21
The Providence Hospital, was a much different situation from the Brunswick. For one, it sat abandoned for over a decade, whereas the Brunny, has been vacant for less than a year.
A lot of the seemingly eyesore exterior attributes, are due to the boards covering windows, and the removal of the balcony and deck, which were partially paid for by taxpayers.
Once again, I have to ask...
If the Brunny is such an unsound and unsafe building, then why was it not condemned years ago? Probably, because it's not in as rough shape as they'd have you believe.
Sure, the third floor and roof need a lot of work, and the brick facades need some TLC(part of that was done about a year ago with subsidized money from a heritage grant), but it is still a pretty sound building. At least it was before LCDC bought it.
I spent many nights in there in the 3 years before it closed, and fixing it up, would be a cakewalk compared to the Grant Hall, and Scott block. A lot of people can't seem to get past the most recent use for the building. It's a shame that people won't look at it from a more broad perspective.
I'd be willing to wager that the vast majority of people who talk about it being a death trap, have never been on the second floor. It was in no worse shape than most other buildings in this town, in fact, it was probably in better shape than the Scott Block's second floor last time I was up there.
Funny that they're redoing the Scott block and Grant Hall, but LCDC with their seemingly deep pockets, doesn't want to preserve a building that would fit right in with their theme for the new development.
If they're going to tear down all of the buildings that were a part of the era that they want to recreate, then there is no point in recreating it to look like that era. Faux-history, does not have the historic value of the genuine article.
If I had the money, I'd buy it myself, and restore it, because I realize the historic value of the building, and the potential that it has. The business potential for it, is there. Just because it has been poorly run and maintained in the past, doesn't mean that an owner couldn't invest the time and effort in restoring it and making it beautiful again.
Like I said, it was never condemned, and people lived upstairs on the second floor until Mr. Montgomery bought it. Granted, it was no prize, but it was far from unliveable. I've been in newer homes in rougher shape than it was.
I really do believe that it can be salvaged, and though I know it's a long-shot, I hope Mr. Montgomery can and will find a way to make it fit into his plans. I truly believe that it would add character, nostalgia, and charm to his development.
That 'scuzzy old bar', has potential to be so much more with a little work.
