A Yellowknife man is calling for less demolition and more preservation of the capitol's past as the territorial government moves closer to tearing down a long-standing building with deep roots in the community.
The former Yellowknife building, which now sits vacant and boarded-up at 5109 51 Street in the city's downtown, is on the chopping block.
In six to eight months, the The Department of Infrastructure (INF) plans to demolish the building, which is owned by the GNWT.
SA国际影视传媒淚 just think it would be a shame to lose it,SA国际影视传媒� Tom Hoefer, a longtime Yellowknife resident.
Hoefer would like to see the building spared, preserved and re-purposed given its historical significance in Yellowknife.
Erected in 1947, the building was one of the first to spring up in the citySA国际影视传媒檚 New Town. Its establishment on YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 expanding front marked a relocation from the Mounties' home base in Old Town, where the original headquarters was located.
By the 1950s, when Hoefer was a young boy living two blocks from the headquarters, the building had become a central part of the citySA国际影视传媒檚 core.
SA国际影视传媒淚 grew up as a kid walking past that building every. It was a bright and shiny building at that time,SA国际影视传媒� said Hoefter with a chuckle, adding he would routinely stop by the station to return lost items heSA国际影视传媒檇 found around town.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was very impressive to me as a kid growing up here because hereSA国际影视传媒檚 all these nicely uniformed guys that would look on you kindly,SA国际影视传媒� he reminisced.
Built in 1947, the former headquarters was one of the first buildings to take root in Yellowknife's New Town.
It was a place where artillery was stored in the basement, while driverSA国际影视传媒檚 licences were handed out upstairs.
It was a different time, and, for Hoefer, a time worth remembering.
But the INF has no intention of keeping the longstanding building standing. Without a historical designation, the building is up for grabs in the department's bid to free up valuable city space.
SA国际影视传媒�... The building is not listed as a designated building for heritage purposes and is not under the consideration for designation as a heritage building,SA国际影视传媒� wrote INF communications coordinator Greg Hanna in an email.
Two different labels can be ascribed to buildings with historical importance in Yellowknife. Heritage designation applies to any SA国际影视传媒渉eritage resource that is designated by a by-law passed by council and becomes part of the heritage by-law and current zoning by-law. Heritage recognition is reserved for heritage resources that are not designated by a by-law, but are acknowledged through a motion of the Heritage Committee, according to a city spokesperson.
For either or those labels to be attached to the building, its owner would have to initiate a process to have it recognized.
Despite Hoefer's calls to keep a piece of Yellowknife's past, the GNWT has no plans to preserve the structure. It's set to be flattened in six to eight months to make way for a new, yet-to-be announced government facility.
SA国际影视传媒淧ersonally, I like to save as many old buildings as you can because thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the early days of Yellowknife and itSA国际影视传媒檚 the architecture of the time which, they just donSA国际影视传媒檛 build buildings like this anyone,SA国际影视传媒� said Walt Humphries, president of the Yellowknife Historical Society.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檇 be really nice to save it, but to save a historic building you need a use for it,SA国际影视传媒� Humphries added.
Hoefer has thought of a new use SA国际影视传媒� to transform the aging building into an in-demand spot for a new visitors centre.
Earlier this month, city councillors greenlit a strategy that would include the establishment of a centralized visitor centre to replace the current one SA国际影视传媒� which sits in the city hall's basement. Councillors are eyeing the downtown as a possible new home.
If all goes as planned,and the building is torn down next year, Hanna said the land SA国际影视传媒渨ill be utilized in the future for a new GNWT facility. Hanna didn't say what facility would potentially fill its place.
For Hoefer, the government's plan to move ahead with demolition is emblematic of a SA国际影视传媒渋n with the new, out with the oldSA国际影视传媒� mentality in the city.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have this tendency to knock stuff over and forget about the past. SA国际影视传媒淚t helps us remember where we can from and where the town came from,SA国际影视传媒� said Hoefer.
