The Town of Banff has issued a permit for the multi-million dollar redevelopment of the historic Banff train station.
Banff Caribou Properties secured a long-term lease for the run down property at the west end of town in March of this year and plans a major overhaul of the station and parking lot.
The development permit for the building redevelopment, which is contingent on approval from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, was issued Nov. 16.
“This is a building that speaks to Banff’s heritage and history and it’s great to see capital reinvestment to one of Banff’s most important heritage structures,” said Darren Enns, the Town of Banff’s development officer.
A log station was built at the site in 1888, but as the summer tourist business boomed in the era before the First World War, the log station was replaced by the present building in 1910.
This station is said to be directly linked to the development of the Canadian national park system and the evolution of the tourism industry in this country.
For the last 10 years, use of the historic train station has declined. It sees limited use for the Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tours and also houses the Greyhound terminal.
Caribou officials could not be reached for comment at press time, but in an earlier interview with the Outlook, they said the redevelopment project would have a railway heritage theme.
There had also been talk of incorporating an old steam engine and rail cars into the landscape plan, perhaps even a water tower.
“Our plan is to bring it back to its past glory and preserve it as an iconic Banff heritage site,” said Gordon Lozeman, the company’s president in an earlier interview.
