Train station's future a controversial topic
Published Monday September 22nd, 2008
Tear it down, or restore it to its former glory?
Capital city residents are finding themselves on both sides in the debate of what to do with the dilapidated York Street train station.
But everybody seems to agree, however, on one point: a decision on the structure's future needs to be made as soon as possible.
"It's Fredericton's sorrow," said resident Charles Dunham. "My grandfather worked there during the war. He was a sergeant in charge of troop transport and walked to work every day from his house on Aberdeen Street.
"So I'd like to see it restored. But what an eyesore at the bottom of the hill."
The 84-year-old train station was designated a national heritage site by Parks Canada in 1991.
The structure's current owner, J.D. Irving Ltd., announced recently it was still weighing its options, adding it's seeking viable commercial development to underwrite the costs of any potential restoration.
Dunham said the possibilities for the site are endless and he's frustrated with what he sees as a bogged-down process.
"This shouldn't be something that the city's going to make money and retire on, but it could be a place where artisans can come and set up shop, or maybe a place where the homeless can come and get the services they need," he said.
"So much can be done. It could be cleaned up so easily and it would be nice to get the rats and whatever else that's living in there gone."
He said a refurbished train station would make an interesting site for a future farmers market as well.
"I'd like to see them bring it back to life," said Fredericton resident Cynthia Hamilton. "Maybe turned into a nice museum like what they have out in McAdam.
"But there's literally been no attempt at all to keep it up for years. It's gradually just fallen into utter disrepair. It's an embarrassment."
Mike Brosnan said the crumbling structure might be too far gone to salvage.
"Tear it the hell down," said Brosnan. "I bet that half the people who live here don't even know what it is and what it stands for."
"The only way they'd be able to fix it, that I could see, would be to tear it down and start from scratch."
The building's owners said any approval to demolish the station would need to come from the federal government.
J.D. Irving officials estimate total repair costs at about $2 million.
The York Street train station is listed as one of Canada's 10 most-threatened heritage sites by the Heritage Canada Foundation.
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