What should we do with the York Street train station?
Published Tuesday February 3rd, 2009
This week, our Community Triple Take panelists tackle a subject that has, so far, baffled the politicians and business leaders of this city and region - what to do with the York Street train station.
Perhaps the greatest thing about Fredericton is the way the city preserves its history.
Whether it's Officers Square, the military compound, George Street Middle School or the historic houses that line the downtown, the city has worked very hard at helping its citizens learn about the significance of its history, and more importantly, how to preserve it.
Then there is the York Street train station.
To me, the idea of saving the train station is completely reasonable. The history of the building alone would be enough to re-energize the Fredericton tourism industry that has become stagnant and tiresome.
The station's platform has welcomed royalty, governors general, politicians and thousands of people who moved to Fredericton for school and work. The station even once welcomed a three-ring circus.
Many people might think the decrepit station is beyond repair and not worth the energy and money that would go into saving the once thriving travel hub.
But are we not talking about the same city that turned a shoe factory and a school into apartment buildings? Oh, and let's not forget the prison that is now a children's science centre. It can be done.
For a building as historic as the York Street train station to have a successful restoration, it must be a community effort, which is why converting it into a community arts centre makes the most sense. Something as simple as a small gallery, a theatre and coffee shop would allow the building and surrounding neighborhood the chance to become the centre of an already thriving arts community in Fredericton.
Perhaps if everyone had something invested in the building, its success would be more likely. If all else fails, put a samosas shop in it.
I'm currently living in the city of Calgary. It is a city whose efforts to maintain its historical buildings are embarrassing the province's conservative-obsessed voting record. Living here has made me appreciate Fredericton's conservation efforts so much more.
While Fredericton is obviously doing a better job of protecting its past, we cannot become selective when it comes to preservation.
Yes, saving the train station is going to be a lot of work. But could you imagine Fredericton without our city hall, Officers Square or the cathedral? We owe it to generations of Frederictonians to save the train station.
Of course, we could always convert it into a pub. Maybe then those in power would make it a priority.
Michael Morrison is the award-winning blogger of Mike's Bloggity Blog. He is from Fredericton, but is currently paying way more expensive rent in Calgary.
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Preserving our architecture and the natural beauty inherent within it must continue to be a priority for the City of Fredericton.
In particular, we must deal with the old train station now. We are running out of time. We have perhaps a year or more before the structure is so severely damaged it will not be possible to repair.
While the roof is mostly gone and the upper structure is deteriorating, the foundation is still strong. If the city, the province and the federal government sat down with the Irving family, which owns the property, I am positive the Irvings would see the potential value in turning the old train station into a model for historic preservation to show what can happen when someone decides to take action and make it happen.
I believe it will be the Irvings who will make it happen. With their expertise and their background, they will help this province make this aspiration a reality.
This site would make an excellent project for the city to show an example of how heritage, combined with modern technology, is the answer in providing not only the restoration of historic sites, but the 'greening' as well.
We should be looking to Germany in regards to their success with solar enterprises that employ approximately 250,000 Germans. This technology and others of its kind around the world must be studied and should be put to task in the creation of the perfect heritage restoration project for this particular time.
It is important for cities and towns to honour their past and to honour their historic buildings. Throughout this country and in particular, this province, this project could turn out to be an example of how to make a restoration project something that is not only environmentally friendly, but potentially more self-sufficient in terms of energy costs needed to operate this site.
I would like to see the old train station turned into a tourism centre, an example of what can, should and must be done in order to make it certain that the historic past is protected along with the preservation, cleaning and positive environmental impacts of a greener building.
With our advancement in being one of the smartest, most prepared cities in the technology age, this city should be an example of not only restoration, but also the technology here to enhance the tourism potential of this province.
People should be able to come to this site, sit down at a computer and look at all the province has to offer. This project would employ people during its construction, and provide year-round jobs while also increasing Fredericton's tourism opportunities.
I am hoping the heritage society will endorse this plan, and with the expertise already available from their society, help bring this project to reality.
Aside from the economic opportunities, the pride of Fredericton will be further enhanced with the results of this venture.
Duncan Noble is a mature student studying political science at the University of New Brunswick.
***
Eight-six years ago the train station opened on York Street.
Once it was an imposing place, full of promises of greater things to come - the beginning of excitement and adventure so far only dreamed of in a young person's imagination.
There on the platform began a life-altering journey. Life here was bid farewell, at least for a while. Who took their life savings and bought a train ticket for Halifax, then passage on a ship, trying to get to the South Seas? China? Africa?
Or did the York Street train station signal an end to the dreams of someone, coming home after years of trying to make it big somewhere, only to be chewed up by unforgiving circumstances?
Was bitterness etched on a face that once held out hope for greatness? Was disappointment the order of the day?
And how many of our finest young men and woman boarded troop trains to take them to the ships that would carry them to Europe, Asia, and North Africa and on into our history books?
Thousands and thousands of Canadians were transported by trains from all across our vast country, and many New Brunswickers began their Second World War experiences by walking through the doors of the York Street train station.
Mothers, fathers, family and sweethearts were all kissed goodbye in or around that station.
Many of those young men never returned to Canada. But thankfully many war-weary and tired young men stepped down off the train, walked across the platform into the arms of their grateful loved ones and never left home again.
After the war, many years of progress and development slowly eroded the need for the station, eventually closing it altogether.
There are decades worth of stories to be told about the people who built, worked in and passed through the old train station. The ties the station has to the rest of the city, and points beyond, are quickly loosening due to neglect and disrepair.
I don't advocate slapping up a pointless museum to the heartwarming stories told, but to repair and rebuild an important part of our city's history.
McAdam Station was basically given back to that community because the land was nearly worthless.
This is not so here. The owners of the property know the value of the land surrounding the station, but are hobbled by the historic nature of the building.
My question is this: If a large company can amass the brain power to float ships, refine oil and do some forestry work, why can't they hire a nice architect, a few crack fillers, a good painter or two and some history buffs and give the city a fabulous place to enjoy our heritage, celebrate our various cultures, relive the past and look toward the future?
Goodwill and gratitude can't cost more than $2 million.
Jennifer Major is a mother of four who hopes one day to finish the laundry. She lives in New Maryland.
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I could easily change my mind if the restoration project was a train station with working model trains inside, a couple of old steam engines (and a caboose of course, with ice cream in the summer) parked outside, a railroad museum inside with model trains and other good stuff for sale, and perhaps a good restaurant. If the folks that operate Racines would take on the restaurant part of such a venture, it would be a stand-out success for tourists and locals alike.