Saskatoon StarPhoenix letter to the editor – October 16, 2006

Civic development requires new direction from the top

The StarPhoenix

Monday, October 16, 2006

In Campaign issues slow arriving (SP, Oct. 4), columnist Gerry Klein says some residents "continue to be angry over the demolition of the Gathercole Building."

As a former Technical Collegiate student, I am upset because I feel misled. Mayor Don Atchison and council said no money whatsoever was available to restore the building. As soon as it was demolished, though, millions of tax dollars magically appeared to prepare the site for Atchison's pet-project -- a spa hotel. There have been closed door meetings with Remai Ventures president, Ellen Remai, on more than one occasion to discuss the project.

Many in my family have proudly belonged to the Royal Canadian Legion. It was shameful and disrespectful when council decided, behind closed doors in June 2004, to reject the idea of creating a veterans' museum within the Legion Building. A museum would have saved the historic landmark from demolition, something which Remai plans to do.

On Dec. 21, 2005, Klein wrote that the city should muster its resources to save the Legion building, but hasn't uttered a word about it since. Legion members have said the building is important both historically to Saskatchewan and as a memorial to their fallen comrades.

From promoting urban sprawl and letting retail giants such as Wal-Mart dictate development, to having the highest crime rate in Canada and playing favourites by council continuously changing the rules, Saskatoon needs a new mayor.

Barb Nankivell
Saskatoon

©The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2006

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Note: Below is the original letter that was submitted to The StarPhoenix. References to Mayor Atchison having met with Remai Ventures president, Ellen Remai, to discuss the spa hotel project and to a comment attributed to him in January 2004 column having 'friends in construction' were removed. The sources for the two references are:

‘Months after formal negotiations began, a proposal to build a hotel and mineral spa at River Landing is still sitting on the table -- but that doesn't mean the project is in jeopardy, says Mayor Don Atchison.

"I think (the negotiations) are just ongoing, and I guess people go on holidays and that. And the private sector, if they're going to be spending $30 or $40 million, I guess they want to make sure they've got everything lined up," Atchison said Thursday when questioned on the status of the hotel proposal.

Atchison said he's not directly involved in the negotiations, though he admitted he's met with Remai Ventures president Ellen Remai more than once to discuss the project.’
(November 18, 2005, StarPhoenix Hotel deal ‘not dead’)

‘Elsewhere downtown, a privately funded highrise apartment or condominium block will be under construction in the first half of the year, (Mayor Don) Atchison predicts, promising to “beat the bushes” personally to find a developer to do it.

“I’m hoping by June we’ll have a crane bringing up a new building,” he said, adding he doesn’t have a specific site or developer in mind. “I’ll ask my friends in construction how interested they are.”’
(January 3, 2004, StarPhoenix Atchison charts ‘feel good’ course for new year)

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Dear Editor:

In Campaign issues slow arriving (SP Oct. 4) civic affairs columnist Gerry Klein says some residents ‘continue to be angry over the demolition of the Gathercole building’.

As a former Technical Collegiate student I am upset because I feel misled. Mayor Don Atchison and city council said no money whatsoever was available to restore the building. As soon as it was demolished, though, millions of tax dollars magically appeared to prepare the site for Atchison’s pet-project – the spa hotel. Atchison admitted to having met privately with Remai Ventures president, Ellen Remai, on more than one occasion to discuss the project. Not surprising, he did say once that he had ‘friends in construction’.

Many in my family have proudly belonged to the Royal Canadian Legion. It was shameful and disrespectful when council decided behind closed doors in June 2004 to reject the idea of creating a veterans’ museum within the Legion building, which no doubt would have meant saving the historic landmark from demolition, something which owner Remai has promised to do.

In his Dec. 21, 2005 column Klein wrote that the city should muster its resources to save the Legion building, but hasn’t uttered a word about it since. Why? The Legion itself has said that the building is important both historically to Saskatchewan and as a memorial to its fallen comrades. I didn’t think it possible but Remai seems to have managed to put a dollar value on what the sacrifices made by those that served their country are worth: $1 million – which is what they apparently paid for the property.

From promoting urban sprawl and letting retail giants like Wal-Mart dictate development to having the highest crime rate in Canada and a council that plays favourites by continuously changing the rules, Saskatoon needs a new mayor.

Barb Nankivell