11 March 2010

Train Station May be Demolished

Nanaimo station after the fire.

Nanaimo Vancouver Island British Columbia - The historic E&N Railway station may be torn down if money to repair the Nanaimo building heavily damaged by arsonists is not raised soon.
 
The station is a key historical building in the city and has federal and municipal heritage status. Arson gutted the station in August 2007 and the case remains unsolved.
 
Officials say the fate of the station is dire if an estimated $400,000 shortfall toward the $2.4-million heritage restoration project is not raised.
 
The building is off-balance and sinking faster on one side than the other.
 
To preserve the piece of industrial heritage, concerned officials say it needs to be upgraded now. If action is not taken this spring, the station will likely be demolished. Officials do not think the deteriorating structure can survive another winter.
 
"If we don't act now, it will be lost. We've just got a small gap to close and a small amount of time to close it," said Downtown Nanaimo Partnership executive director Matt Hussmann.
 
"People don't understand this is not something that can wait. We could have a restored train station or we could have a gravel lot."
 
Businesses, community groups, and the city have donated to help save the station, but ongoing fundraising efforts have yet to be enough. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company in 1920, the station was a foundation for city economic growth and the rail system on Vancouver Island. Nanaimo coal helped power the Canadian navy. Canadian men left for war from its train platform.
 
The Island Corridor Foundation was considering a major restoration of the Selby Street station before the fire on 26 Aug 2007. Construction would have to take place before the fall.
 
A heritage architect assessment after the fire estimated exterior renovations at $1.4 million and interior renovations at $1 million to rehabilitate the station. More than $2 million has been raised so far, but the deadline for the remainder to be raised is 15 Apr 2010.
 
"We don't want to see demolition, but this is our best opportunity to see something happen," said city community and heritage planner Chris Sholberg.
 
"It's a now-or-never kind of thing."
 
Supporters say a restored train station could also serve as a centre for green transportation on Vancouver Island.
 
Danielle Bell.