Green Lantern building still shines

After Sue Uteck raises questions over the future of the Keith Building, city smooths out owner Webber's preservation frustrations.

by Tim Bousquet

The historic Green Lantern building on Barrington Street will not be coming down after all.

Halifax councillor Sue Uteck raised eyebrows at a recent council meeting when she said she had received an email from Green Lantern owner Jeff Webber expressing frustration with the city's historic preservation efforts. "He's given up on it, and is going to tear it down," said Uteck. The building was damaged by Hurricane Juan.

But Webber has not returned a call for comment, and city staffer Bill Plaskett says Webber's frustrations have been "smoothed over." Next month, Plaskett will be bringing a recommendation to council that outlines city financial assistance in shoring up the Green Lantern facade, and for deferred tax payments for interior renovations. Plaskett declines to give details of the proposal until council sees it, but says there's enough money available to accomplish the job.

The Green Lantern is more properly known as the Keith Building, named after the Gordon and Keith furniture, carpet and piano store that occupied the building after its construction in 1896. From 1917 through the 1960s, the Green Lantern restaurant occupied the ground floor, a space later rented by the Party House bar and now by Pogue Fado. The Granville Street side of the building, now home to Tribeca, was once the site of Critic's Choice video store. "Critic's Choice is mentioned in a song on the third disk of Joel Plaskett's new CD," points out Bill Plaskett, father of Joel.

Slideshow

Memory lane: Green Lantern Slideshow

A look at the Keith Building in its former glory when the hotspot The Green Lantern was housed in the building. Photos courtesy of the Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management.

Click to View 6 slides

Comments (1) RSS

Showing 1-1 of 1

Add a comment

How sad. That building is a wonderful example of the architecture of the era.

Posted by Remodeling Contracts on May 1, 2010 at 11:22 PM | Report this comment

Latest in News Feature

NEWS FEATURE »

Companies connected with Nova Scotia Business, Inc board member James Kehoe to receive $585,688 in rebates approved by NSBI.

posted by TIM BOUSQUET, Aug 19/10

comments 0

NEWS FEATURE »

Bawdy crimes

posted by LIZZY HILL, Aug 12/10

By redefining sex work as organized crime, the Conservatives are endangering workers. comments 7

NEWS FEATURE »

Blow job

posted by BRUCE WARK, Aug 5/10

Wind power is sold as the answer to Nova Scotia’s quest for renewable energy, but we’re overlooking the health effects on people who live near windmills, and some serious questions about whether wind can really solve our electrical problems. comments 28

NEWS FEATURE »

The accidental activist

posted by LEZLIE LOWE, Jul 22/10

In the 1970s, in a dress shop on Barrington Street, a straight salesperson provides professional and helpful service to Halifax’s emerging drag queen population. Is she a gay crusader, or just a decent person? Or are they the same thing? comments 2