Province accepting proposals to save former Royal Alberta Museum building
In a news release on Friday, the provincial government announced it is offering a final opportunity for proposals to either maintain or repurpose the vacant building in the Glenora neighbourhood in Edmonton.
The province estimates that the overall cost to repurpose the former museum site would be at least $150 million.
"If a community group can raise $150 million, and put together a great proposal, then we should be open to that," Premier Danielle Smith said at an unrelated news conference on Friday.
In a news release, Martin Long, Alberta's minister of infrastructure, said in response to public feedback, the province has created this last chance to "explore all avenues for repurposing the site."
This request marks a significant shift from the province's previous decision last August to tear down the former museum and replace it with a green space.
Since the old RAM building closed its doors to the public in December 2015, it has remained vacant. The province reports that the empty building continues to cost taxpayers more than $700,000 annually in operating and maintenance fees.
Last year, the province estimated that the cost to demolish the building would be between $22 and $48 million.
WATCH | One last opportunity to save the old RAM:
Stuart Adams, the chair of the Save the Old RAM task force, a community group that has been advocating for the preservation of the building, said the new opportunity for proposals is a major goal his organization has been working toward.
"Our intent was to get the government to stand back, take a sober look, and go to the market to find out how this building can be repurposed rather than razed," said Adams.
Adams said the building's location, materials, and design provide the space with major potential as a future resource, and that his group is open to any practical proposals that would save the historic structure.
"We feel that the market is better suited to [do] that and to consult the community, look at their resources, and identify the best use for this building because it is a special building," said Adams.
The vice-chair of the Save the Old RAM task force, Lewis Cardinal, said residents living around the building have been very receptive to the idea of preserving the structure.
"In Glenora …there is a tremendous amount of support from the local community to do something that's going to be unique, [and] that supports them," Cardinal said.
"They don't want to see this space lost. They want to make sure that it serves not only them but also everyone else."
LISTEN | Local advocacy organization works to preserve the former RAM building
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
State of play in Trump's tariffs, threats and delays
Dozens of economies including India, Canada and Mexico face threats of higher tariffs Friday if they fail to strike deals with Washington. Here is a summary of duties President Donald Trump has introduced in his second term as he pressures allies and competitors alike to reshape US trade relationships. - Global tariffs - US "reciprocal" tariffs -- imposed under legally contentious emergency powers -- are due to jump from 10 percent to various steeper levels for a list of dozens of economies come August 1, including South Korea, India and Taiwan. The hikes were to take effect July 9 but Trump postponed them days before imposition, marking a second delay since their shock unveiling in April. A 10 percent "baseline" levy on most partners, which Trump imposed in April, remains in place. He has also issued letters dictating tariff rates above 10 percent for individual countries, including Brazil, which has a trade deficit with the United States and was not on the initial list of higher "reciprocal" rates. Several economies -- the European Union, Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines -- have struck initial tariff deals with Washington, while China managed to temporarily lower tit-for-tat duties. Certain products like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber are excluded from Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, but may face separate action under different authorities. This has been the case for steel, aluminum, and soon copper. Gold and silver, alongside energy commodities, are also exempted. Excluded too are Mexico and Canada, hit with a different set of tariffs, and countries like Russia and North Korea as they already face sanctions. - Canada, Mexico - Canadian and Mexican products were hit by 25 percent US tariffs shortly after Trump returned to office, with a lower rate for Canadian energy. Trump targeted both neighbors over illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, also invoking emergency powers. But trade negotiations have been bumpy. This month, Trump said Canadian goods will face a higher 35 percent duty from August 1, and Mexican goods will see a 30 percent level. Products entering the United States under the USMCA North American free trade pact, covering large swaths of goods, are expected to remain exempt -- with Canadian energy resources and potash, used as fertilizer, to still face lower rates. - China focus - Trump has also taken special aim at China. The world's two biggest economies engaged in an escalating tariffs war this year before their temporary pullback. The countries imposed triple-digit duties on each other at one point, a level described as a trade embargo. After high level talks, Washington lowered its levies on Chinese goods to 30 percent and Beijing slashed its own to 10 percent. This pause is set to expire August 12, and officials will meet for further talks on Monday and Tuesday in the Swedish capital Stockholm. The US level is higher as it includes a 20 percent tariff over China's alleged role in the global fentanyl trade. Beyond expansive tariffs on Chinese products, Trump ordered the closure of a duty-free exemption for low-value parcels from the country. This adds to the cost of importing items like clothing and small electronics. - Autos, metals - Trump has targeted individual business sectors too, under more conventional national security grounds, imposing a 25 percent levy on steel and aluminum imports which he later doubled to 50 percent. The president has unveiled plans for a 50 percent tariff on copper imports starting August 1 as well and rolled out a 25 percent tariff on imported autos, although those entering under the USMCA can qualify for a lower rate. Trump's auto tariffs impact vehicle parts too, but new rules ensure automakers paying vehicle tariffs will not also be charged for certain other duties. He has ongoing investigations into imports of lumber, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and critical minerals that could trigger further duties. - Legal challenges - Several legal challenges have been filed against the tariffs Trump invoked citing emergencies. The US Court of International Trade ruled in May that the president had overstepped his authority, but a federal appeals court has allowed the duties to remain while it considers the case. If these tariffs are ultimately ruled illegal, companies could possibly seek reimbursements. bys/des/mlm Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Birch Hill and Brookfield to acquire First National Financial for $2.9 billion
(Reuters) -First National Financial said on Sunday that it has reached an agreement to be acquired by Birch Hill Equity partners and asset manager Brookfield Asset Management in a deal valuing the company's equity at $2.9 billion. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kyle Connor's Impending Payday Set To Challenge Jets' Financial Philosophy
The Winnipeg Jets have done a terrific job of building a core that has happily accepted less money than they could get on the open market. Whether it's superstar goalie Connor Hellebuyck, star center Mark Scheifele or star defenseman Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg's top players have chosen to stay in Winnipeg for considerably less money than other teams would've gladly paid them. However, there's a situation on the horizon that could upset the apple cart when it comes to the Jets' financial food chain. And it all has to do with star left winger Kyle Connor. For the past six seasons, the 28-year-old Connor has earned $7.14 million. And in return for that money, Connor has thrived on offense. In five of the NHL's last five full seasons, Connor has never produced fewer than 31 goals. And this past season, Connor posted 41 goals and set new career-highs in assists (56) and points (97). You really couldn't ask for more from Connor, who was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team for his efforts. But here's the issue: Connor will be a UFA at the end of the coming season, and if he does get to the open market, teams will be lining up to pay him at least $10-million per season, if not much more than that. And if Winnipeg intends on keeping Connor for the long haul, they're going to have to make Connor the big dog in terms of the salary structure for the Jets. Right now, no Jets player makes more than the $8.5 million Scheifele and Hellebuyck make. Even a top talent like Morrissey only makes $6.25-million per season, while veteran D-man Neal Pionk earns $7-million per year. And young winger Gabe Vilardi just signed an extension that will pay him an average annual amount of $7.5 million. So, with the salary cap rising to $95.5 million next season, do the Jets really want to play with fire and try to shortchange Connor on his next contract? Even limiting Connor to $8.5-million per year on an eight-year extension would represent a huge discount Connor would be giving to Winnipeg. Connor is in his prime, and he has a degree of leverage right now that he may never have again. Why would he accept a hometown discount of sorts when he and his agent are fully aware he could be earning at least $1-$2-million more per year? The answer is clear: he's not going to accept a hometown discount. Indeed, spread out over an eight-year deal, Connor would be leaving $16 million or more on the table to stay in Winnipeg by taking an $8.5-million AAV deal. We can understand why Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would try his best to keep Connor's pay raise to a minimum, but he'd be running the risk of alienating a cornerstone player at a time when he could easily accommodate a $10-million-per-season payday for a star forward who can't be replaced in free agency or through trades. On the other hand, Cheveldayoff doesn't want to insult Scheifele, Hellebuyck and Morrissey by backing up the money truck for Connor when Cheveldayoff didn't do the same for those veterans. It's all an extremely delicate balance for Jets management, and it could wind up reshaping the Jets' roster. Only six NHL players had more goals than Connor had this past year, and only six players in the league had more points last season than Connor had. He's been a consistent menace with the puck and a savvy playmaker, and he deserves to have a significant raise. If Cheveldayoff can convince Connor to take, say, $9-$9.5 million on an extension, it will be a clear victory for the Jets, and it won't cause much, if any, friction with Winnipeg's other top stars. But there's no guarantee Connor will accept such a deal. In any case, Connor's next payday will likely reset the financial bar for Jets players. At a time when the business of the league is thriving, Connor should reap the benefits of it. And if and when Connor agrees to a new deal, Winnipeg's salary structure almost certainly is going to be significantly altered as a new financial era begins for the organization. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
