Statistics: Posted by NWdweller — Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:17 am
]]>
City hall staff want to set the doomsday clock for the Eamon’s heritage service station that has been in storage since it was moved off the site of Tuscany LRT station.
If there’s no use for it found by Halloween 2015, it should be demolished or otherwise unloaded, a council committee report states.
Read more here: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calga ... story.html
Statistics: Posted by Admin — Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:48 am
]]>
As mentioned in the above post, Eamon's was discussed at the June 19, 2013 meeting of Council's Transportation and Transit Committee. A proposal to assist in the adaptive re-use of Eamon's was put forward by the Bearspaw HIstorical Society. 3.7 EAMON'S BUILDING UTILIZATION AND FUNDING UPDATE, TT2013-0452 Here is a link to the agenda/minutes/video. http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... pe=MINUTES
The item was dealt with subsequently In Camera at the July 22, 2013 Council meeting. There are some interesting submissions in the Council package. 5.3 EAMON'S BUILDING UTILIZATION AND FUNDING UPDATE, TT2013-0452
http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... ype=AGENDA
It was again dealt with in public at the July 29 Council meeting:
http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... pe=MINUTES
13.4.8 EAMON'S BUILDING UTILIZATION AND FUNDING UPDATE, TT2013-0452
ADOPT, Moved by Alderman Hodges, Seconded by Alderman Farrell, that the SPC on Transportation and Transit Recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 5 contained in Report TT2013-0452, be adopted, as follows:
That Council:
1. Approve the installation of building services for the possible future return of the Eamon’s building to site;
2. Authorize Administration to continue to store the Eamon’s building until NW LRT extension construction is completed (planned fall 2014). If not leased by this time, then Administration will return to Council for further direction on disposition.
3. Approve use of up to $410,000 from the Reserve for Future Capital as funding source for building move to/from site, storage, design and servicing;
5. Approve the Attachment to Report TT2013-0452 and direct that the Attachment and in camera discussions remain confidential pursuant to Section 24 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act until a new lease agreement has been finalized with a tenant.
ROLL CALL VOTE
For:
G. MacLeod, J. Mar, B. Pincott, R. Pootmans, J. Stevenson, G-C. Carra, D. Farrell, D. Hodges, N. Nenshi
Against:
G. Lowe, A. Chabot, D. Colley-Urquhart, P. Demong, R. Jones, S. Keating
CARRIED
ADOPT, Moved by Alderman Hodges, Seconded by Alderman Farrell, that the SPC on Transportation and Transit Recommendation 4 contained in Report TT2013-0452, be adopted, as follows:
That Council:
4. Include any net operating rent (above actual operating expenses) be directed back to the Reserve for Future Capital until the entire amount drawn down from the Reserve for Future Capital is repaid.
CARRIED
We have since learned that the infrastructure to restore the Eamon's building to its original location was installed at the Rocky Ridge Royal Oak station, which was the next step to return the building to the site.
Here is the link to the leasing opportunity: http://www.calgary.ca/CS/CPB/Pages/Real ... aspx#Eamon
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Wed Sep 04, 2013 2:23 pm
]]>
Statistics: Posted by Fragile — Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:16 pm
]]>
]]>
http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... ype=AGENDA
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:18 pm
]]>
http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/DBA/Documents ... 2-0011.pdf
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:15 pm
]]>
http://www.calgary.ca/CS/CPB/Pages/Real ... ities.aspx
Also, an interim report of some sort is expected at the Transportation and Transit committee meeting of Council on March 20. That is a public meeting. The agenda item will be posted a few days prior. http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:57 am
]]>
Statistics: Posted by GHeritage — Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:52 pm
]]>
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/City+begin ... z2E7SYz8w0
Related letter to the editor:
Odd priorities
By Anita Koles McNeill, Calgary Herald December 4, 2012
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/pri ... story.html
People occasionally contact CHI inquiring about the use of the building. You should contact the City of Calgary heritage planners who can better field your interest. See the contact information at the bottom of the page linked here: www.calgary.ca/heritageStatistics: Posted by newsposter — Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:08 pm
]]>
http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... pe=MINUTES
Also, a round-up of some of the news stories:
November 14 CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/s ... ml?cmp=rss
November 15 Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Deadl ... story.html
November 15 Metro
http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/440644 ... ons-owner/
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Mon Nov 19, 2012 5:14 pm
]]>
Read more:
Statistics: Posted by cjane — Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:48 am
]]>
http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub ... ype=AGENDA
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:22 pm
]]>
http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/11/12/ca ... -bathroom#
Calgary aldermen want to flush plans to turn aging Eamon's Camp gas station into $1.4 million bathroom
By Dave Dormer ,Calgary Sun
First posted: Monday, November 12, 2012 05:46 PM MST | Updated: Monday, November 12, 2012 06:02 PM MST
Two Calgary aldermen want to flush a city administration plan that suggests turning the historic Eamon’s Camp building into a LRT loo.
One of several options in a report coming before the city’s transportation committee Wednesday calls for converting the shuttered northwest gas station into an Park and Ride bathroom, which would cost nearly $1 million more than already allocated to the facility.
In May, city council voted to spend $500,000 to move the historic building on Crowchild Tr. N.W. — a 1950s service station designed with a signature art deco sign — to a storage facility while officials figured out what to do with it.
Now committee members are facing a suite of options to keep it — ranging between $700,000 to $1 million — but it’s a tough sell for some.
“From my point of view, they’re not getting (any additional money), but that doesn’t mean other (committee members) won’t give it to them,” said Ald. Shane Keating.
“It’s a great old building, but that’s what it is, a great old building.”
In September, the city issued a request for prequalification, looking for someone in the private sector to buy and renovate the building — however, there were no takers.
Among the three options recommended are $900,000 to see the building renovated and returned to the Park and Ride site to be used as an automatic public toilet; the second, costing $1 million, calls for the building to be renovated and returned to market to be leased; and the third, costing $700,000, would be to renovate it and move it to another, city-owned location.
The report also includes options to permanently move the building in hopes of selling it at a cost of $280,000 or disposing of it altogether, which would cost between $20,000 and $50,000.
That the private sector balked when the facility was made available is reason enough not to invest more money, said Ald. Gord Lowe.
“The difficulty I have with the whole thing is the building itself was not seen to be of historical significance, it didn’t get designated,” he said.
“The sign didn’t get designated either, but it will be incorporated into the LRT station and that, to me, makes good sense — it gives a nod to Eamon’s Camp and preserves a bit of the heritage.
“If it was a good deal, somebody would have taken it ... but they didn’t, so it isn’t.”
Better planning was needed on the project from the outset, said Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta director Derek Fildebrandt.
“It’s going to stink, either way they do it now,” he said.
“No one wants to be responsible for demolishing a city landmark, especially after we’ve already shovelled a ton of money into keeping this thing in one piece — to demolish it now would be farcical.
“It’s a case of the city not having their ducks in a row.”
dave.dormer@sunmedia.ca
On Twitter: @SUNDaveDormer
COUNCIL OPTIONS FOR EAMON’S CAMP
• $1.4 million: Renovate and return the building and then return to market for lease of the building
• $1.5 million: City provides funding to renovate the building and then return it to the market for lease
• $1.2 million: Review other city-owned locations where the building could be relocated and renovated
* All above options include $500,000 already spend to relocated the building to a storage facility
• $280,000: Permanently remove building from the site to sell to a private buyer
• $20,000 to $50,000: Dispose of the building as originally planned in 2008
Statistics: Posted by newsposter — Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:19 pm
]]>
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 ... z2C7Vh2LIZ
Statistics: Posted by LauraGrace — Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:17 am
]]>