City Greenhouses

Description of the Historic Place

The City Greenhouses consist of one long rectangular greenhouse, called "the head-house" (Greenhouse 1 and Greenhouse 1A), along with four separate small greenhouses. The northern portion of the site has been remodelled to accommodate a general office, a supervisor’s office, a storage and potting area, a garage, and a shop. A root cellar, with a sod roof and stone walls, is also located on site for the storage of bulbs and trees. The site spans approximately 35 acres of land at 1101 Avenue P North.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the City Greenhouses is its place in the social and aesthetic history of the city. The site has been the home of the City Nursery since 1929 and the location of the City Greenhouses since 1959. Early citizens of Saskatoon recognized the need for the provision of its own beautification infrastructure, and thus the operation of its own greenhouse and nursery. In October 1926, the Saskatoon Parks Board recommended that a number of properties acquired through the Arrears of Taxes Act be set aside, including land lying between 31st and 33rd Streets and Avenues P and S. These lands, which offered both sufficient space and a suitable location, were to be utilized for the City Nursery. Plans for new greenhouses to be built at the Avenue P and 33rd Street Nursery were developed in 1955 by Lord and Burnham Co. Ltd. Actual construction began in 1958, with the official opening in 1959.

Today, the City of Saskatoon Greenhouses continue to provide horticultural displays for public viewing and/or landscape enhancement at the Civic Conservatory, City Hall and other civic facilities as well as major public roadways, parks and public open spaces.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Those features that relate to its cultural and historical significance including the greenhouse buildings and root cellar; the large expanse of land; and its continued use for the purposes of public horticulture displays and beautification.