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Final days for Robertson Headframe Vote on whether to allow demolition of famous Yellowknife landmark scheduled for Sept. 9
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, August 28, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Robertson Headframe's days are numbered after council decided to bring forward a vote on whether or not they should allow Newmont Mining Corporation to proceed with demolition during a committee meeting Monday.
The city says it can no longer afford to delay the demolition of the Robertson Headframe. Newmont Mining Corporation, which currently owns the structure, wants to proceed with demolition and is willing to cover the costs. - NNSL file photo |
The vote to demolish the elevator shaft will be held during a city council meeting on September 9.
The city has been requesting that Newmont delay demolition of the building, owned by the company, since 2008.
The city had hoped that it could find a way to preserve the NWT's tallest man-made structure - at 76 metres - as a monument to Yellowknife's mining heritage.
However, it has been unable to find a way to fund the preservation.
"I recognize that there is certainly an emotional attachment to the Robertson Headframe given its history and the heritage component," said city councillor Cory Vanthuyne. "But I also recognize that if it were just to be a landmark structure, that most certainly would not be affordable by any stretch of the imagination."
According to an assessment conducted by administration, if the city were to take over ownership of the headframe, it would have to put aside $1,250,000 - $250,000 for the maintenance of the structure and an additional $1,000,000 to address the potential liability of having to demolish it.
"This is not something that the city, in its own right, can own, operate and maintain," said Vanthuyne.
If the city votes in favour of allowing Newmont to proceed with demolition, the company will cover the costs.
Since postponing the demolition of the headframe in 2008, the city conducted a feasibility study to determine whether the structure could be re-purposed.
Several potential ideas were put forward, including a greenhouse ($20 million), an indoor viewing platform ($20 million), a restaurant ($5 million), a climbing wall ($3 million), and condominium dwellings ($50 million).
However, none of the ideas attracted interest from the private sector. Without investment from the private sector, the city said it is unable to afford the maintenance and future liability associated with the headframe.
Linda Bussey, who was the only councillor to speak out against the demolition, wondered if the city had done everything in its power to preserve the headframe.
"I think it's not an easy decision for any councillor. But is it the right decision? Did we do everything we can to preserve our heritage?"
Bussey said she would have liked to see more input from the community on the project.
"Did we do any community engagement or did we just put it out there and say it's open, does anybody have any interest," said Bussey.
"We're doing a lot of community engagement with everything else so what about this?" she added.
Mayor Mark Heyck pointed out that regardless of what the community wants, the decision to allow Newmont to proceed with demolition of the headframe is above all, a financial one.
He added that there is still a chance the structure could be preserved but that once the vote is passed, any discussions would be between a developer and Newmont.
"If council goes ahead and passes this motion, the building's not going to be knocked down the next day. But if there is an interest and someone is wanting to take on that responsibility, its nearing the end for that structure, so now's the time," said Heyck.
Heyck said if the vote passed council in two weeks time, the headframe would likely be demolished next summer.
Omar Jabara, spokesperson for Newmont, confirmed that if council passes the vote the company will begin demolition of the headframe next summer.
Heyck, who campaigned to preserve the headframe when he was a councillor in 2008, said he is upset that the city is unable to save it.
"It's a sad and unfortunate thing," said Heyck.
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