By Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary Herald, November 12, 2012
Despite a failed search to find a business willing to take over Eamon’s Camp, the city is refusing to flush hopes that the heritage landmark on Crowchild Trail can be saved.
Officials are considering alternatives, including a $1.4-million restoration of the iconic, but dilapidated, former gas station to turn it into an automatic public toilet enclosure.
It’s just one of the possibilities being contemplated, according to a city report in which officials predict it will cost between $1.2 million and $1.5 million if council wants to fund the renovation of the building.
Administrators are asking for more time, and need until May 2013 to sort out what comes next after an attempt to generate private-sector interest in the building didn’t work.
Ald. Dale Hodges doubts any additional money will be put in until a future use for the Eamon’s building can be determined.
“We’ll probably end up moving it to another site, where it might be useful to a different owner,” Hodges said.
The report on the situation will be discussed Wednesday at the city’s transportation committee meeting.
The city had originally intended to save the Eamon’s Camp sign but tear down the adjacent garage, to make way for the future Rocky Ridge LRT park and ride lot.
City council, however, intervened and asked officials to find a new use for the building.
Local heritage advocates consider Eamon’s to be the finest example of an Art Moderne gas station left in Canada.
The problem is that despite advertising the site, the city has found no one willing to take it over, restore the building and set up shop.
The intention had been to remove the Eamon’s building temporarily, because it sits on a lower grade than the future park and ride, and then return it to the site.
The building could be left in storage until somebody wants it, although finding a buyer for the age-worn structure will be difficult and the heritage value won’t be retained.
Administrators are instead suggesting the city pay for its restoration. One option is for it to hold a public toilet, however part of the building would remain vacant and the necessary infrastructure would be difficult to accommodate in a parking lot.
Another choice is to spend $1.5 million to restore the building, and then wait for someone lease it. That, too, has a downside because it is difficult to renovate without knowing what its final use will be.
For $1.2 million, the city can move the building to another property and then restore it.
Ald. Shane Keating said he’s not keen on those pricey options, and suggested it’s best to save the sign and construct a replica of the Eamon’s building at much lower cost.
“It’s fabulous to be able to save and restore all of these buildings,” he said. “But if it’s not feasible, then we can’t do it. The Eamon’s building was a landmark for decades, without question. But is it viable today?”
Eamon’s Camp is located on the old Highway 1, and is thought to be the first drive-in restaurant in Calgary when it was opened by Roy Eamon in 1949.
It soon became a Texaco station. The Calgary Heritage Authority says it is one of the few remaining examples in the city of corporate architecture from the 1950s.
Despite the tepid response from the private sector, supporters of Eamon’s are still convinced the best option is to get a small-business owner in there.
But Calgary Heritage Authority chairman Scott Jolliffe said he’s worried council will balk at the cost if the city has to foot the restoration bill.
“It’s certainly a concern,” he said. “These kinds of numbers make it easy to say ‘No,’ because all we’re looking at is the expense side.
“We’re not looking at the result, which would be a facility that would generate revenue over the long term.”
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Eamon+Camp ... z2C7Vh2LIZStatistics: Posted by LauraGrace — Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:17 am
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