The future remains uncertain for historic building on Saskatoon's Broadway Avenue

There’s new talk this morning about an old building that has stood on Saskatoon’s iconic Broadway Avenue for more than 100 years.

The Farnam Block was built at 650 Broadway Avenue in 1912, and is unique in its multilevel street access. Stairs reach up to the main level, and the basement also has storefront access for shoppers.

The building, however, is in rough shape, and the new owners are now exploring all the options, including the possibility they may have to tear it down.  

This week the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee at city hall invited the new owners in to talk about the building and the committee’s desire to save it from the wrecking ball.

The new owners told the committee they've made no final decisions.

But – leaving the building in its present state is unlikely, realtor Gaby Akl told Saskatoon Morning. He said the new owners are looking at three options.

One is to simply tear down the building and start from scratch.

Two is to take portions of the existing building, such as the facade and other recognizable elements, and incorporate them into a new building.

Three is to retrofit the current building as it sits.

"At this stage, salvaging the structure as it sits and making use of it as it sits, it looks very unlikely," Akl said.