Station facelift starts
Published Friday November 20th, 2009
Worn roof | Building to be restored
There are more signs of progress on the revitalization of the former York Street train station.
Work is underway to replace the station's roof. That will help clear the way to a restoration of the historic building.
J.D. Irving Ltd. recently announced the downtown landmark would be refurbished as part of a 20-year lease agreement.
The deal will see the building used as part of an NB Liquor store that will also include a new addition to the structure.
Mike O'Brien, vice-president of supply chain and facilities for NB Liquor and a city councillor, toured the site Thursday.
He said the goal is to have the building ready by late summer.
"It's full guns ahead for an August opening,'' O'Brien said. "Depending on the weather, the winter could dictate that, but that's our target.
"I hope people are pretty excited to see the work going on here. There's been so much interest in the project.''
The deteriorating state of the building became a source of collective concern and frustration in recent years.
Fredericton resident Nick de Vries stood watching from the sidewalk as workers tore away part of the roof Thursday afternoon.
"It's been so neglected. This never should have happened," he said. "But I'm very happy to see something being done."
As a member of a military band, de Vries made regular use of the train station and, like others, he worried about the state of the building.
"I saw this morning that work had started. When I saw what they were doing, I was quite happy," he said. "So I made sure to come back this afternoon."
As he spoke, two men on a hydraulic lift cut away worn sections of roof.
The Urban Farmer, a Fredericton contractor, has the contract to complete the roof replacement.
That includes selective interior demolition, removal of the existing roof and replacing it.
"The roof will be replaced in four sections,'' said J.D. Irving Ltd. spokeswoman Mary Keith.
"As one part of the roof is removed and replaced, the next section is removed and replaced.''
The roof work is expected to be done by February.
Fundy Fencing has also been hired. The company has been widening the area of the fenced enclosure around the train station this week. That will allow cranes, boom trucks and other equipment to be brought onto the site.
The company received permission to replace the roof from Parks Canada in September.
The company has filed an application for federal approval to restore the station.
The work will involve restoration of the original 1923 railway station, the demolition of the 1940s-era baggage wing and the development of the retail store that will be attached to the original train station.
The application was made to the federal Environment minister under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act and the Heritage Railway Stations Regulations.
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