Falls Restaurant in Saint John nears brink of oblivion

A restoration enthusiast from Saint Johnis trying to prevent the destruction of the former Falls Restaurant and tourism centre building that overlooks the Reversing Falls in the city.

The landmark building has fallen into disrepair over the years and needs up to $800,000 in upgrades, according to city staff.

Max Kotlowski, who splits his time between Virginia and Saint John,says he's only now hearing about the demolition plans. He is urging his fellow citizens to help save the buildingthat wasconstructed in theearly-1950s.

"If that building is taken away from that site from Simms Corner, that place is going to be stripped bare," said Kotlowski.

"The tourists are going to come, they're going to see primarily a massive paper mill that looks like it's discharging into the river some will go back to their hotels and cruise ship cabins, and after laughing they will placetheir online review.

"People use that widely nowadays for travel, with the online, someone can lose their reputation very quickly," he said.

Kotlowski considers the site'smid-century design to be"architecturally significant," andwould cost a small fortune to build today.

"The coolest public buildings were built in that time period. They're modest on the outside, they tried to blend with nature," he said.

"The Falls building was originally a natural wood finish, and then the interior is open, it has the chandelier room that is just amazing, and you're right with nature, you're just on the edge of the Falls."

Demolition not justified, saysKotlowski

In March, Saint John council allocated$90,000 for the removal of the former restaurant and tourist centre, which closed late last year.

The municipallyownedbuilding, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years,requires between $700,000 and $800,000 in upgrades, including plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and structural work, city managers told council on March 16.

Kotlowski, who says he has constructed building in the past,contends there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the space.

"The foundation, as much as I can see, has no cracks, it's not crumbling There was a new electrical service entrance at the frontand new electrical panels in the back," he said.

"The building features a spacious open interior, it has an amazing wood beamceiling that would cost a fortune to build.

"In my travels, I see buildings like that, they're protected. We don't go destroying them."

The restaurant and tourist information centre was built on top of a foundation that anchored an earlier bridge on the sharp rock face at the Reversing Falls. The building was subsequently expanded andremodeled.

It sits across from the formersite of the historic T.S. Simms & Co. Limited paint brush factory, which was demolished last year. That landmark structure was built in 1912.

Kotlowski says if the former Falls Restaurant goes, there will be nothing of value left for visitors to see.

"You're so blatantly looking at the paper mill, people are just going to laugh. I know it's going to happen," he said. "The way the building was with its beautiful wood finish and its interior and the flags in front that draws your attention right to that building."

Kotlowski says he's surprised more people haven't come forward to voice their opposition to the demolition.

"I feel I must speak, because if I don't I'm going to feel bad if that restaurant is taken away," he said. "I own land here, I have property I'm so disgusted [if it goes] I'm like maybe, goodbye."