Calgary Sun
By: Michael Platt
Date: Jan 14, 2013
Link to full story and photos:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/01/13/de ... -bulldozed
The landfills are full of Calgary's history -- the bricks and mortar of a city that's never halted development in the name of preservation.
In most cities, the loss of a century-old city block in the name of progress would be front page news -- here in Calgary, tearing down history warrants a been-there, done-that shrug.
People may not like it, but they feel helpless.
Who can blame them, when developers can mow down Penny Lane and the Mount Royal Block, or skyline icons like the Ogden Federal grain elevator.
The old Herald Building downtown is doomed, and Calgary just lost an entire row of landmark Victorian homes in Mission, known as "The Painted Ladies."
In November, one month shy of its 100th birthday, the Beltline's Harvey Block was demolished, erasing yet another entry on city hall's heritage inventory.
Not that the official list ever seems to matter.
For those who love history, it's a sickening tradition. This is Calgary, where the past is in the way.
It would take a real twist to turn a historic-site development permit into a story that doesn't end with bulldozers and a lament for lost character and charm.
A twist, like a developer who changes his mind. A developer like Tim Down.
"It taught me a lot. I was uneducated about these things before. I am very enlightened now," said Down.
The owner of Calgary's Renoir Management once held that same piece of paper obtained by so many before him : An application for a demolition permit, allowing the destruction of one of Calgary's original buildings.
Down wanted to build a modern highrise on the site at 801 12 Ave. S.W., and to do so meant doing away with a old three-storey building known as The President Apartments.
Built in 1927 in Spanish colonial style, the white stucco building was once one of Calgary's most prestigious apartments, but was on the shabby side when Down acquired it.
That was one of the reasons Down didn't think anyone would care if he knocked the old structure down to make way for a 17-storey condo tower -- but he was wrong.
An outcry from the community, along with pres-sure from the city's heritage department, convinced Down to take another look at the old girl. The developer found himself charmed.
"I realized it was a win-win for the city and myself -- it's a great old building," said Down.
"All the people surrounding the building showed me it was their passion, and how important it really is. I didn't get any of that before."
The demolition permit was abandoned, taking The President off death row -- a near miracle in Calgary.
New plans were drawn up, this time featuring a 33-storey building which utilizes the refurbished President at the base, protecting history and incorporating it at the same time.
That was nearly five years ago. This week, with the economy making the development feasible again, the site goes before the Calgary Planning Commission for a land-use hearing.
Down says he hopes to start work this fall, and when finished, The President will be home to a ground-floor restaurant and cafe, plus a rooftop garden deck connecting the old building to the tower.
It won't be an easy job, and the engineering plan calls for the complete removal of The President onto 7 Street, to make way for an underground parking lot.
"We're moving the building off the site, constructing the parkade and then moving it back -- the city agreed to close seventh, so they'll come in and jack the building up and slide it over," said Down.
It takes a lot of work to save history, but Down says he's now convinced preserving Calgary's past is worth the extra effort.
"On first blush, it was "how can we actually do this?" But anything is doable, and at the end of the day, it all worked out," he said
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:51 am
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- 3 Storey apartment building consisting of 24 fully leased bachelor suites... current net revenue of approx. $170K...
- $500K in recent upgrades...
- Future development opportunity for a 32 storey residential/retail building totalling 218,300 sq ft... (note, the approval for this includes preservation of the President and related density bonusing - see above)
It can all be yours for $5M! Down payment of $1M and the remainder $4M in vendor financing at 3.5%, 2 year mortgage term...
If you're interested call 403-560-6864!
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:19 am
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http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... ype=AGENDA
Update: Received committee support. Designation vote will be at Council on Feb. 7, 2010. Item no. 9.2.3, LPT2011-07 on the agenda:
http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... ype=AGENDA
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:30 am
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Just wanted to know if the designation of the President has been proceeded.
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Statistics: Posted by alisontin — Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:10 pm
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http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/video/in ... JqtprIHOvG
Link to the owners website, including pictures of the proposed development:
http://www.renoirmanagement.com/
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:50 pm
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July 1 2010 update: The Colliers international website indicates it is conditionally sold. Here is some of the listing information:
The President
809 - 12th Avenue SW
►► Three storey apartment building with $500,000 in recent upgrades
►► 16,296 square feet of land
►► Approved for 129 residential units and 32 stories*
►► $4,400,000
* Note from newsposter - this includes additional density from the preservation of the existing President, with plans to designate the building. As far as we know, that plan stands. See above posts.
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Further note, as of Jan 2010 the building remains in the hands of Renoir Management: http://www.renoirmanagement.com/Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Thu Jul 01, 2010 7:53 pm
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Update on the this building is that it has been refurbished with a coat of brown paint on the outside and replacement windows. Slowly being rented. Small studio apartments with a kitchen and bathroom and one large room for living/bedroom. Floors were sanded and refinished.
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:39 am
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Here is a link to the agenda item at the time:
http://publicaccess.calgary.ca/lldm01/l ... n=Download
New info
A February 9 2009 report to City Council on the status of the Beltline ARP (M-2008-055) indicated that the "the developer will be required to... provide a historic rehabilitation study that details all records of the existing building prior to any alterations, the current conditions, and a detailed rehabilitation plan. One interior floor of the President Apartments will be preserved in its original condition. In addition there will be a publicly accessible interpretive feature to highlight the historic significance of the President Apartments which will be showcased at a variety of locations on the site and within the building." In the meantime, the owners are seeking productive use from the President, which has been vacant for several years now (2005?), leading to worries about security, potential for arson, etc... Am glad to report that as of June 2009 the building is being repaired and prepared for residential occupancy.
New paint job as of August 2009.
For more information see page one of this thread.
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:51 pm
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Approved:
ITEM NO.: 10 Dwayne Drobot
COMMUNITY: BELTLINE
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: Apartment Building (135 units) with offices and
restaurant uses.
FILE NUMBER: DP2007-1554
MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 801, 805, 807 and 809 – 12 Avenue SW
APPLICANT: Abugov-Kaspar
OWNER: 891786 Alberta Inc
(Tim Down)
CORPORATE PLANNING APPLICATIONS
GROUP RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL
PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION: 2008 February 21
AMENDMENT: To limit parking to a maximum of 189 parking stalls (1.2
stalls / dwelling unit)
Moved by: J. Hubbell Lost: 1-6
Opposed: D. Watson, G. Lowe, R. Zazalenchuk, B.
Barrington, R. Clark, K. Lim
The Calgary Planning Commission APPROVED the
proposed Apartment Building (135 units) with offices and
restaurant uses at 801, 805, 807 and 809 – 12 Avenue
SW, in accordance with the Corporate Planning
Applications Group recommendation.
Moved by: R. Zazalenchuk Carried: 6-1
Opposed: J. Hubbell
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:02 pm
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The developers have applied for a development permit for the President Apartments site. The land use (zoning), see above ^, includes retention of the President Apartments and its incorporation into the new development. Possibility of community association space in the restored building as well. More info as it becomes available.
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:41 am
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March 11, 2007
Re. CPC 2007-029, Bylaw 25Z2007
To Calgary City Council:
Ward Ald. Madeleine King
Mayor David Bronconnier
Ald. Craig Burrows
Ald. Joe Ceci
Ald. Andre Chabot
Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart
Ald. Barry Erskine
Ald. Druh Farrell
Ald. Linda Fox-Mellway
Ald. Bob Hawkesworth
Ald. Dale Hodges
Ald. Ray Jones
Ald. Helene Laroque
Ald. Gord Lowe
Ald. Rick McIver
The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society (CHI) supports CPC 2007-029, Bylaw
25Z2007, the Land Use Amendment including the President Apartments* in the
Beltline, given that the purpose is to retain this historic landmark as
part of a new high density development. We encourage City Council to
consider municipal heritage designation of the President as part of this
land use amendment.
CHI wants to compliment the applicant, City staff, ward Alderman King and
the Beltline community association for designing and supporting such an
innovative approach to saving this piece of Calgary's history, while also
accommodating new development.
Regards,
Janet Woolgar,
President
Calgary Heritage Initiative Society
email: info@calgaryheritage.org
web: www.calgaryheritage.org
*Note: The CPC report mistakenly refers to the President as a category C
building. It is listed as category B on the inventory.
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:36 am
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