A developer wanting to revitalize Banff’s historic railway station and the surrounding lands is trying to get public feedback and support for an idea to create a satellite commercial district at the west entrance to the tourist town.
Officials with Banff Caribou Properties say the redevelopment is not financially viable with the current restrictions in Banff’s Land Use Bylaw on the types of uses permitted there.
Gordon Lozeman, the company’s president, said he hopes the Town of Banff can be more flexible on allowed uses in order for retail, ski and bike rentals, or potentially a dinner theatre to be considered.
“In order for this thing to even stand a chance at succeeding, we have to have the ability to at least consider uses beyond services that relate directly to active railway operations, which is the situation now,” he said.
“Once we have some input from the public, we’ll work with the Town of Banff and Parks Canada to ensure that everyone is on the same page for potential future uses.”
Caribou Properties, which secured a long-term lease for the site after lengthy negotiations with Canadian Pacific Railway, hosted two public open houses this week.
The last one is today (Jan. 24), from 2-5 p.m. at the company’s office at 229 Bear St., located on the third floor of the Lux movie theatre building.
Banff Town council asked Caribou Properties last year to seek public input on their plans when the company came before them to ask for changes to the land use bylaw.
Brian Standish, Banff’s deputy mayor, said the public’s perception is the lands are under-utilized, but at the same time, the Land Use Bylaw restricts the types of uses there.
“It’s a very important landmark in the town; it’s the west entrance to town and everyone has different ideas,” he said. “We’re just wanting to capture what some of those ideas are.”
Caribou has big plans to restore the historic train station building, which is currently used as a terminal for the Rocky Mountaineer and Greyhound Bus, though the majority of the building has been unused for at least 10 years.
The last use was the Caboose restaurant, which closed in 2001.
Caribou is hoping to refurbish the building to preserve its heritage character and status, and to provide a mix of commercial and community services that will bring back the vibrancy of the station.
Lozeman said potential uses could include terminal services, including a visitor information centre, food and beverage, offices, retail and rental, and dorm-style accommodation upstairs.
“At this stage, however, there are no contractually committed tenants – and thus no committed uses – for a redeveloped site, and hence no assurances that such redevelopment could succeed,” he said.
The Town of Banff has raised concerns about the ‘discretionary clause.” Generally, when railway lands stop being used for railway purposes in national parks, the federal government has the right to take back or sell the land.
