Editorial — Another important heritage building on way out
FRIDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — Kamloops is about to lose another heritage building, and this one is a biggie.
The Kamloops Federal Building, popularly known as the former Christian Men’s Hostel, on West Victoria Street seems certain to be bulldozed into rubble. The Kamloops Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association and the United Way are backing out of a plan to repurpose the building as a centre for community non-profit groups to use as offices and meeting rooms.
Federal Building looks out at West Victoria Street.
The reason is understandable — as reported in The Armchair Mayor News on Thursday, a feasibility study has come in estimating necessary upgrades to the historic building will cost $727,000. Another $306,000 will be needed over the next 20 years, the report says.
The CMHA got the building for a dollar and was willing to turn it over to the United Way. Now, they’re both saying they can’t do it. Unless somebody rides to the rescue in the next month, the building will go back on the market.
That means it will probably be sold for development — the building knocked down and a new commercial building of some kind put up in its place. That will be the end of what was once one of the most beautiful heritage rows in the city. One by one, the old buildings have been torn down.
City council has no interest in saving the Federal Building, though they did spend $5,000 on the feasibility study.
So, another important heritage building will bite the dust. Progress.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Sad
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It is indeed a beautiful building, shame if it was torn down in about 15 minutes, after its storied history. It was called the Gordon Bregoleiss Center after a former city councillor, freeman of the city and past state deputy for the KofC. Still alive and going strong. His life story would be worth a book. Understandable that the city would not want to save it due to the cost of doing so, but this is sort of a lack of respect for this city and the people who built it. In less than a year, the last voices will echo throughout the halls of Stewart Wood elementary in the name of progress. When will it be torn down. Another hole in the ground. Yet we have a double eye-sore on Mission Hill, all for the sake of progress.
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Yes, those two unfinished condo towers are an eyesore. The only people that are happy with them are the houses above them. They still have their view for the most part.
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