Station 20 West not dead yet, organizers say

Even though the province has pulled $8 million from Saskatoon's Station 20 West development, a scaled-down version of the inner-city project is still viable, officials say.

Station 20 West was originally going to be an $11.5 million project. It was billed asa central place to serve needy people in Saskatoon. It would have provided many services,including medical clinics, subsidized housing and a grocery store.

The NDP government promised $8 million last fall, but then lost the election. Earlier this year, the Saskatchewan Party government said it wouldn't proceed with the grant, saying it wasn't a good use of taxpayermoney.

Some people thought Station 20 West was dead at that point, but project manager Paul Wilkinson said this week he has high hopes for a scaled-back proposal.

Wilkinson and his group plan to ask Saskatoon city council on Monday for a one-year extension to raise money privately.

The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses is donating $100,000 with a $250,000 loan guarantee, while the Canadian Union of Public Employees has committed $100,000 with a $150,000 loan guarantee, he said.

Many additional private donations came in after the group held a public walk in Saskatoon's inner city to promote the centre several weeks ago, a walk that attracted thousands of people, Wilkinson said.

The revised plan for the development still includes a grocery store, but the medical clinics have been cut.