11 June 2009
Legion Needs Home; Station Needs TLC
Jean-Guy Perreault, president of the Royal
Canadian Legion Branch 4 in Fredericton, says the branch is inquiring about taking over the York Street train station to keep the
landmark and its past alive.
Frederiction New Brunswick - For many Second World
War soldiers, the York Street train station was their last glimpse of home before they headed overseas.
Now, Branch 4 of the Royal Canadian Legion hopes the derelict train station can be given a new lease on life as the local legion's
headquarters.
Legion president Jean-Guy Perreault said the branch has had preliminary discussions with J.D. Irving Ltd. about acquiring
the train station.
He said they're far from formal negotiations, but the idea is capturing people's attention.
"A lot of our vets boarded there to go to war," he said Wednesday. "They have very strong memories of the station.
"We've talked to a lot of veterans, and a lot of them would like to take the front of it, finish it, put an old train there with
25 feet of rail, and at the back of it we would put the legion. That's our plan right now, and I think we could have quite a good
thing."
Perreault said the idea is still in its early stages and there's been no decision as to what the legion might do, or how a deal might
be worked out. That will be up to the legion's membership.
Perreault plans to meet with Mayor Brad Woodside on Tuesday to discuss the station's future.
On Tuesday, a frustrated Woodside said if a deal isn't worked out soon, he's ready to press Ottawa to grant approval for the station's
demolition.
Under the Heritage Railways Stations Protection Act, the owner of the historic train station isn't obliged to fix it up, but must get
a ministerial order from the federal Environment Department to alter the structure or demolish it.
J.D. Irving, which owns the train station and a chunk of the former railway lands surrounding it, has said it would try to salvage the
heritage property, but it would need to redevelop it in the context of a larger business venture.
The last cost estimate on repairing the building was up to $2 million.
Several years ago, the possibility of a major call centre tenant had the company contemplating the construction of an office building
that would generate the income to include the train station as a component of the development project.
The legion hopes J.D. Irving might part with the building for the symbolic sum of $1 because it made a similar offer to a local
non-profit group.
"I think if they would sell it for $1 and we'd go from there," Perreault said.
The owner continues to pursue opportunities.
"We have offered the train station property to a non-profit organization in the past and that option remains a
possibility. But we have always maintained that the site needs a commercial development to complete the estimated $2 million
restoration costs," said J.D. Irving spokesman Geoff Britt.
The legion is located at the intersection of Queen and Westmorland streets.
Past president Ardith Armstrong said the legion executive began scouting new locations after the 2008 flood.
"We're in a 50-year-old building and its getting pricey to maintain," she said.
The train station caught the legion's attention, though.
"That is a heritage site. The fact that our troops left for service from there would tie in very nicely."
The Daily Gleaner first reported in March that NB Liquor is negotiating for the site.
A spokeswoman for the Crown corporation confirmed this week that it's discussing lease options with J.D. Irving.
The Daily Gleaner has learned that the legion and NB Liquor aren't the only ones in talks with the owners. An individual with
knowledge of NB Liquor's negotiations said a third group has also expressed interest in the site.
Woodside said he's received support for his comments calling for either renovation or demolition.
"I think a lot of people are getting tired of the situation."
He said any group that wants to get involved should be ready for the financial burden of refurbishment.
"I hope they have some deep pockets, there's a good chunk of change involved."
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