CNE Board Letter
[Copy of Letter sent to Urbanism from the CNE Board of Governors]
January 5, 1999
<Urbanism@interlog.com>
I am in receipt of a copy of your e-mail to Mayor Mel Lastman dated October 19, 1998 concerning the demolition of Exhibition Place Stadium, particularly the North Grandstand.
You are aware the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place and City of Toronto approved of the demolition of both grandstands at their respective meetings of June 19, 1998 and on July 29/30/31, 1998. Consequently Exhibition Place entered into a contract to complete this entire demolition which commenced on October 15, 1998 and is now well underway including demolition of the North Grandstand.
There were may reasons why the Board and the City approved of this demolition. Exhibition Stadium has been a centre for sports and entertainment for 40 years. However, in recent years it has stood empty at an annual price to the taxpayer of over $140,000. While the Board of Governors has made many efforts to bring a tenant to the Stadium site, all such projects have failed to materialize. The cost of restoring the Stadium for full use, which is estimated to be over $7.0 million, is a huge hurdle for any sports team or other investor to absorb.
While the Stadium is being demolished, let me assure you that the Board has made every effort to preserve its history. One-half of the North Grandstand seats will be moving to the Coliseum at Exhibition Place and the others have been sold to the public or other municipalities. The Baseball Hall of Fame will be removing to its museum all baseball memorabilia. In addition, all fixtures in the Stadium that can be reused are being relocated with Exhibition Place and City facilities.
Again, I thank you for your letter and I trust this one replies to concerns you raised.
Yours truly,
Dianne Young
Interim General Manager
Cc: Mayor Mel Lastman
Mr. Joe Halstead
URBANISM
Urbanism is dedicated to Canadian Modern Architecture & Design, and to the Preservation of Architecture across the Dominion of Canada. Urbanism was launched in mid-1998 in a campaign to save Toronto's CNE Grandstand Stadium from demolition. Urbanism is a resourse for the public to utilise and act if they so choose. These will include demolition alerts, new construction, databases on Modern Architecture, General Canadian Architecture, Architects, Industry, and Canadian Industrial Design.
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