City council will try to buy York House
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday June 19th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
City council has voted unanimously to open negotiations with Brunswick Street Baptist Church to determine if the church is willing to sell York House to the city.
The three-storey, 114-year-old brick building on York Street is slated for demolition.
Mayor Brad Woodside said Monday night's council decision isn't reactive.
The city has been working behind the scenes to find private properties in close proximity to the downtown church in hopes of offering alternative sites for a proposed church redevelopment and expansion, the mayor said.
"This is an opportunity to protection a heritage building. Ultimately, it would be a win-win," Woodside said.
There are owners in the vicinity who are willing to sell property.
The city wants to send its staff to negotiate with the church and inform them of the alternatives for expansion.
The city hasn't purchased any of the alternative sites, but has reassurance they can be acquired, Woodside said.
Brunswick Street Baptist Church bought York House from the city in the 960s for $81,000, but the cost of renovating the building and removing asbestos and lead is too much for the church's budget.
It needs additional space, but wants to wreck York House and replace it with a modern structure more suited to its needs.
The environmental upgrades don't worry Woodside because the main city hall building had similar problems because of its age but was renovated.
Woodside said the city has been scouting for additional downtown office space to ease the crunch at its own historic city hall structure.
Offices for city workers are tucked into every nook and cranny of the building -- even in an old bank vault in the structure's centre core.
"They have needs. We have needs. It's bringing all the parties together," Woodside said.
"This one is doable."
If negotiations can reach a satisfactory conclusion, Woodside said, it would be a win-win for both the city and church.
"Fredericton is known for its history and heritage ... This one does have a special place in the history of our city," Woodside said of York House. "It's a heritage building worth saving. There's a long history there."
The building was designed by James C. Dumaraesq, the same architect who designed the provincial legislative building, St. Paul's Church and Charlotte Street School.
In 1893, York House was built to house Fredericton High School. Since then, it's been a teacher's college, a library, a student employment centre and a youth hostel.
While the church has estimated repairs and renovations would hit the $3-million mark, Woodside said the city wouldn't have to launch into a full-scale renovation right away.
The project could be phased-in at an affordable pace and in a cost-effective manner, he said.
Coun. Stephen Kelly, who represents the downtown ward, said he's heard from citizens of all walks of life on the issue.
"Council has heard loud and clear the deepest public concern at the prospect of needlessly losing one of our most cherished properties," he said.
Kelly said Fredericton's culture and heritage are valued by its citizens similarly to essential public services such as clean water, police and fire protection, and good streets.