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Saskatoon Church Faces Demolition After 85 Years
20 Jul
Summary
- A historic Saskatoon church, opened in 1939, is facing potential demolition.
- The Anglican Diocese cites lack of resources for property upkeep.
- Heritage advocates urge documentation and adaptive reuse options.
St. Mark's Anglican Church in Saskatoon, a landmark since its opening in 1939, is facing potential demolition. The Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon has requested that city council remove heritage protections, citing a lack of resources to maintain the building. Bishop Chad McCharles stated that the property is no longer manageable for the diocese.
The church, which began in a stable and was built for approximately $2,500, has not housed a congregation since 2012 due to structural issues in the adjacent hall. The diocese is seeking to market the property to developers, suggesting that heritage designation hinders development flexibility.
However, the Saskatoon Heritage Society is advocating for all reasonable options to be explored, including adaptive reuse. They emphasize the importance of documenting the building and potentially incorporating its elements into new projects if demolition becomes unavoidable. The current holding bylaw provides a 60-day period for the city to consider heritage designation.
