Preserving sidewalk prisms ‘an issue of cost’

The City of Saskatoon will look into the cost of preserving the translucent glass prisms set in downtown sidewalks.

The glass blocks, called prism lights, are relics from a time when merchants needed light for basement deliveries. The three-by-three-inch squares of glass have turned purple over time from oxidation.

During the last 100 years, most of the squares have been removed, paved over, replaced or covered. Several panels remain along 21st Street East between Midtown Plaza and the Delta Bessborough hotel.

A new program proposed by city administration and passed by council Monday updates the century-old arrangement for the 25 remaining below-sidewalk storage rooms.

The city will now take responsibility for the sidewalk and the liability for injuries caused by people tripping on ruts, and will split the cost with property owners of a structural inspection of the under-sidewalk rooms, many of which are said to be badly corroding.

When the sidewalk is repaved, it would be up to the property owner to pay to retain the glass block feature.

There may be heritage funds to help the business owner keep the decorative feature. But the glass must "meet the (city’s) safety standards and design criteria" to be kept, a city report says.

Mayor Don Atchison said the "goal should be to save as many of these glass blocks as possible." But safety must come first, he said.

"We don’t need someone walking along and falling down six feet or eight feet," Atchison said.

Coun. Charlie Clark noted some cities have programs in place to preserve the blocks.

Vancouver is attempting to preserve its glass prisms around heritage buildings and Seattle’s popular underground walking tours point out the prisms. Victoria, B.C., and Sydney, Australia, have programs to help businesses illuminate the blocks at night. All those cities have put the glass prisms on their heritage registries.

"Is there something we could do so it’s not totally up to the landlord?" Clark said.

The city’s administration will price out how much it will cost to preserve the tiles before a final bylaw is approved.

"It’s purely an issue of cost," said city solicitor Theresa Dust. The Saskatoon Heritage Society hasn’t studied the matter but will now be looking at the historic value of the prisms, said president Lenore Swystun.

"We see features like these as critical elements in creating our distinct sense of place," Swystun said. "We believe the city has a responsibility for stewarding these elements. It is our sidewalk, it is our public space."