A Red Deer man hopes a petition and student essays will help convince the city to halt the wrecker’s ball bashing down the Arlington Inn Hotel.

Tim Lasiuta, who has a passion for preserving Red Deer historical sites, said Monday he has started a petition in a last ditch effort to save the storied and historic building in downtown Red Deer.

“It’s not too late yet,” Lasiuta said Monday.

He said on Feb. 25 the city filed for an intent to demolish the building but there’s a 45-day waiting period in order for the public to appeal. Submissions can be filed as to why it shouldn’t be destroyed and any possible uses.

Lasiuta said April 15 is the earliest the building could be wrecked, assuming there is no opposition. He said if there is opposition the demolition will be delayed while the city is obligated to consider the opposition.

Lasiuta said the petition would be taken to city council along with student winners of an essay writing contest.

Winners of the local historical writing contest will read their essays to city council.

“My logic is that city council can’t ignore Grade 6 and 7 kids learning about democracy.”

Lasiuta says his passion for the Arlington is based on history.

He’s also an advocate for preserving other local historical sites, Red Deer’s respected archivist Michael Dawe said of Lasiuta Monday.

Dawe has been going into schools telling students about the city’s rich history for some time now.

Lasiuta is aiming for a few thousand names on the petition.

The petition is at the Super Store gas bar and online by e-mailing savethearlington@hotmail.com.

The petition says the Arlington is a “beautiful old landmark with important historic significance, locally and provincially.

“Despite the recent closing and negative publicity, it is still structurally sound and habitable,” the petition adds.

City council voted unanimously last summer to sacrifice the building in the hope of creating a brighter downtown future.

Council approved $1.5 million for the purchase of Red Deer’s oldest hotel, built in 1899.

The city hopes to entice a developer to build a new multi-use complex on the empty lot.

Dawe said his school visits help increase heritage awareness in the community.

He said the Arlington is significant because it was one of the first hotels constructed at the turn of the last century.

He said the Buffalo has been converted into a treatment centre while the Windsor Hotel burned down more than 12 years ago and the Park Hotel was turned into a multi-use building.

The Rancher’s Valley Hotel wasn’t built until after the Second World War.

Contact Jack Wilson at jwilson@reddeeradvocate.com