By Adam Hickman
The story of two crumbling Sparks Street buildings has ended with a wrecking ball dominating the final act. The lesson to be learned? Progress and pragmatism.
Slowly, crews are tearing down the Kresge and Woolworth buildings, dating back to 1929 and 1941, paving the way for a temporary parking lot.
There’s nothing wrong with this inevitable outcome. In fact, market forces demand it.
It’s simple. The buildings have been vacant for ten years, with no buyers in sight. The buildings are decrepit. The cost of making the needed repairs is too high to expect entrepreneurs to risk an investment.
Vacancies exist with sounder infrastructure, so setting-up elsewhere is an easy decision. The deteriorated buildings force prospective entrepreneurs away. It’s a shame because the location isn’t a problem. The site is prime real estate in a busy, commercial area.
Tearing down the buildings is positive because it allows the location to be developed to its full potential.
The parking lot is only temporary. In the long run, the prospects of a new building on the site are good. It’s easier for businesses to develop an empty lot than run-down buildings that need million-dollar repairs.
A new building would improve the streetscape and provide Sparks Street with more continuity. For now, even parking is more useful than two empty buildings with no value.
Some argue heritage value, because the buildings represent a unique form of architecture. But people don’t gaze for hours at boarded-up buildings.
Protecting heritage is about more than saving old wood and concrete. It’s about capturing the historical spirit and context. There’s no sense in saving old buildings because they’re old. Buildings should be restored for a reason, like Parliament Hill and the Museum of Nature. These are valuable because of their colorful histories and current usefulness.
But the Sparks Street buildings don’t have either. Nobody sees a reason to pay to preserve the buildings.
Business is criticized for failing to fund preservation, but business isn’t the gatekeeper of heritage protection. Business gets involved when the project is profitable. You can’t fault business for passing on a money pit. The city passed as well.
Nobody should shed tears over losing these buildings. Sure, the Bank of Nova Scotia is putting up a parking lot, but its not paving paradise.