North Battleford city council has upcoming decisions regarding the historic CN building.
The building was discussed at a city council budget deliberation meeting last Thursday. The building is prominent downtown and was featured in the Downtown Revitalization Action Plan (also referred to as the Master Plan) as possibly featuring a farmer’s market in the future.
According to the 2019 budget document, the building could also provide “the City with several options for more office space, retail leases and business attraction to the area and community.”
The building is currently in disrepair, Director of Planning and Development Jennifer Niesink said, and parts of it have asbestos. Foundationally, “it appears to be good.”
CN, which currently owns the building, has expressed a desire to sell the building, Niesink said, despite the building’s proximity to the train tracks.
But, Niesink said, CN’s plan has been to let it sit in disrepair.
“We've been told flat out their plan is to let the building sit there until it has to be demolished,” Niesink said.
Councillor Len Taylor said there are “substantial emotional ties to the building,” and said he was “disturbed” CN has allowed the building “to go this long with an intention to allow it to deteriorate.”
“CN years ago should have been held accountable in some way for the upkeep of that building, or at least deal with the community in a more respectful manner,” Taylor said.
Council approved the 2019 budget last meeting, with $200,000 going toward purchase and architectural design of the CN building. The building costs one dollar, Niesink said, while the land costs $110,000.
The project is planned to span many years. Proposed budgeted amounts slotted for renovations in upcoming years include $250,000 in 2020, $250,000 in 2021, and $100,000 in 2022. The exact expenditures, and whether or not such expenditures in upcoming years would be made, are yet to be determined.
Mayor Ryan Bater asked how time sensitive the project was, given that in 2019, the City is facing “a serious austerity budget.”
Niesink said the matter is “relatively sensitive.”
“My concern with pushing it back is if CN changes their mind to hold on to it,” Niesink said, adding “it was an uphill battle” to get CN to sell it.
Niesink added “the longer it sits, the longer it deteriorates.”
The heritage value of the building could attract grants.
While $200,000 has been approved for 2019, Councillor Greg Lightfoot said it’s not a guarantee “that we're going to move forward with the project” if, for example, more information comes to light.
Some councillors agreed what to do with the CN building and when is a “tough” decision.
CN Media Relations Director Jonathan Abecassis told the News-Optimist CN was working with the City on the issue, and a CN representative would be available for further comment next week.
Updated Dec. 13, 2018
