Saskatoon will save cobblestones but won't protect historic downtown Legion Building from demolition - November 16, 2006

Erecting interpretive signs no cure for loss of heritage

The StarPhoenix

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Re: City risks loss of character to gaudy new development (SP, Nov. 7). I couldn't agree more with Peggy Procter's assessment that, if we continue to abandon our heritage in the downtown, we risk destroying that which makes Saskatoon a distinct prairie city.

I also read recently that the city wants to remove the on-ramp at 20th Street and First Avenue South and make every attempt to remove and preserve the historic 1912 cobblestones under the asphalt on 19th Street below.

The city says the stones could be incorporated into the River Landing project, with an interpretive plaque about their significance.

Let me get this straight. The city will move heaven and earth to save the cobblestones, but it won't lift a finger to protect the historic Royal Canadian Legion Building from being destroyed by developer Remai Ventures to build a new hotel.

How twisted is that? Are we to reduce everything to interpretive plaques?

It's nice to see that the business community is happy with the plan. That's all that ever seems to really matter.

Dale Wilson
Saskatoon

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2006