Victorians weigh in on former Maritime Museum building
Citizens gathered in Victoria pubs last week to offer proposals for 28 Bastion Square, the provincially owned building that most recently contained the Maritime Museum of B.C.
The community feedback sessions were organized by the Downtown Victoria Business Association to get suggestions for the empty building.
Kerri Milton, executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, said so large was the turnout the meeting shifted from one pub, the Irish Times, 1200 Government St., to a bigger one, the Bard and Banker, 1022 Government St.
Milton said at this point it’s impossible to say if there is any consensus on what to do with the building. Opinions have been gathered and will be part of a report.
The building, a National Historic Site, opened in 1889 and housed one of the first courthouses in Victoria. It was previously owned by the municipality.
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia moved into the building in 1965. In 1977 the city transferred ownership to the province with the understanding it would continue as a museum.
But in 2014 the province requested the museum move out because of safety concerns. Storage was arranged for the museum’s collection and now the museum operates out of storefront location at 634 Humboldt St. —