MacBride Museum expansion scaled back
CBC News | Posted: October 4, 2016 6:36 PM | Last Updated: October 4, 2016
Original, bigger plan did not meet city of Whitehorse's design guidelines
Big plans for an expansion of MacBride Museum of Yukon History are being scaled back and now meet the city's design requirements.
The original design for the $6 million expansion was unveiled in August. It would have added 1,700 square metres of space to the museum. It also would have required several city zoning amendments.
The museum decided to re-submit a smaller plan, instead.
"Well, basically we've got a revised design that really changes the appearance of the building," said Pat Ross, the city's manager of planning and business services.
"For the most part, the building has been pulled back off Front Street so it's not overhanging the public realm of the sidewalk."
Ross said the building will now be inset about a metre from the property line.
According to Ross, the new plan meets all city design requirements, save one — onsite parking. The museum would have none, so council is being asked to consider a zoning amendment.
Old design an 'eyesore'
The original design plan inspired a lot of comment — not all of it positive.
Councillor Betty Irwin questioned the boxy design, saying it was a departure from the existing "cultural or historical appearance of the property."
Other Yukoners took to social media to blast the design as "huge and overbearing" and an "eyesore."
"Looks threatening to the old telegraph office log cabin, somewhat like a cornice or a glacier about to calve," wrote Kay Lawson on CBC Yukon's Facebook page.