This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
Save the Historic “X” People
There are a load of people in this town that need to realise that simply because a construction project is new does not make it a spawn of Satan out to destroy the historic whatever. Things that were constructed in the past are just like things that are
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The whole United Gulf debate is ridiculous – IT’S A HOLE – nothing remotely historic. And the whole “doesn’t fit in with it’s surroundings” argument is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. Like the buildings will somehow make Barrington Street less historic. Last thing we need for that site is another faux-historic prefab-panelled low-rise. Like the new brewery Marriott development.
I could not agree more.
Remember the Midtown BS issue that got squashed. Yeah, waaaay better to keep an old dingy diner around than rejuvinate a basically dead set of blocks downtown. Then of course there’s the “twisted sisters” that the grannies got their knickers in a bunch over I guess because they didn’t look like a old warehouse or it might be more difficult for the street bums to hang out there.Now I hear the Salter Street and Queens Landing proposals are also getting heat from the preservation grannies. Why listen to these old bitties anyway?
For all the “historic” lovers, why don’t you put your effort into actually not just preserving these buildings, but to actually maintaining them. Have you seen how many of those buildings are in such sad state? Walk down Barrington and pay attention to the building facades. They’re either crumbling or just look like crap. The owners of these buildings should be mandated to keep them in pristine condition. Go spend your energy doing that instead of fighting change.The old farts are just stuck in their old ways and don’t like to see change. Btw, how many of them live downtown and would have their “view” blocked by a highrise?
These nuts should take a look at some projects in other cities that have completely revived otherwise wasted spaces. It doesn’t mean we have to embrace a new urban renewal deal whole hog but there are many many places in the city that should basically be knocked down and hopefully forgotten.Presvation for preservation’s sake prevents growth, jobs, etc as well as stopping the city from shedding it’s old image and becoming something better. Do some research into the Halifax of 35-40 years ago and imagine what it would be like today if basically everything had been “preserved”.It would be shite and I for one, wouldn’t live here.
How come a gas station (being constructed in front of the Barrington St. Superstore) can be approved with no problems, but a high-quality hotel can’t!??!?!s
cfdsgvdf,Approvals have to be based in law not opinion. Design standards can be set but uses are a different matter.
i am definitely a “historic” lover, but i could not agree more with “changer””put your effort into actually not just preserving these buildings, but to actually maintaining them.”anything historic that is not maintained just looks old and delapatated.
i agree