One more run at keeping a Toon development thread alive. There is a bit of activity around. With the wife out of town I'll be able to find the time for some photo updates. I know you all can't wait.
Remai buys Legion landmark
Members have a year to find a new building
Published: Wednesday, February 01, 2006
A Saskatoon landmark built with the sweat equity of local war veterans will be sold today to the development company that already plans to build a luxury hotel and spa on adjacent property at the River Landing site.
Remai Ventures expects to make a formal announcement of its deal to purchase the Royal Canadian Legion Hall on 19th Street East sometime today, after the sale is officially closed, Remai Ventures' director of real estate, Curtis Zwack, confirmed late Tuesday.
Zwack did not disclose any details of the sale or indicate the company's plans for the site.
Brent Burns, provincial executive director for the Legion, said the organization's provincial office in Regina has already approved the deal, though he's not at liberty to discuss the sale price or any other details.
Legion Branch 63, which currently occupies the building, has not yet found a place to relocate, but its members have a year to do so before they have to move, Burns said.
The decision to sell the building was made at a branch meeting on Dec. 14, and at that time members were told Remai Ventures was offering $1 million for the property, according to a Legion member who did not want to be identified when he spoke to the StarPhoenix in late December about the pending deal.
The city's last property tax assessment valued the building at just over $250,000.
Built in 1929 by local veterans of the First World War, the hall is equipped with one of the last horse-hair dance floors in Saskatchewan.
It has no official designation as a heritage site, but many local history buffs would love to see the building remain standing.
Coun. Elaine Hnatyshyn, whose ward includes the hall, tried last year to spearhead an effort to turn it into a veteran's museum for memorabilia held by local families.
Her fellow councillors agreed with the joint-venture idea, but it fell flat after the city pitched the plan to Legion members.
"I can only say I'm disappointed," Hnatyshyn said Tuesday, noting the hall's location and design were not impeding development at the River Landing site.
"It could have been such a positive for Saskatoon, and it could have been a positive for that Legion," Hnatyshyn said of the museum concept.
She doubts Remai Ventures will leave the old hall standing, which will be sad news for many senior members of the branch who opposed the deal, Hnatyshyn said.
"I know some of those people were hoping to appeal to the provincial (Legion) authority to stop the sale, but obviously that didn't work."
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarp...1-03021b681288
I imagine they will be tearing it down. It's not the most handsome building, but brick is somewhat of a rarity around here. It would be nice if they could incorporate it in the new development, but I don't see that happening.