Buildings back from the brink

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Buildings back from the brink

Postby newsposter » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:05 am

With the talk about the condition of the buildings proposed for demolition on the Calgary brewery site, it might be worth recalling some other buildings that were said to be too far gone or uneconomical to restore.

Lorraine Apartments

Photos from www.heritageproperty.ca
Before:
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After:
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In January 1998 the Lorraine Block was severely damaged by a fire caused by careless smoking. The entire 4th floor and roof were completely destroyed, and because of the amount of water used to combat the fire, and because of the building’s subsequent exposure to the elements and vandals, most of the interior sustained significant damage. The fate of the Lorraine Block captured the imagination of Calgarians and received extensive media coverage.

Heritage Property Corporation purchased the Lorraine Block in October 1998 and began the major rehabilitation and restoration. This included installing new mechanical and electrical systems, a new elevator, and major structural upgrades. In addition, the entire interior was redone. Heritage Property Corporation completed the Lorraine Block’s restoration and rehabilitation in the summer of 2001 and the high class, character office block re-opened. The Lorraine Block was designated a Provincial Historic Resource on May 3, 2002.


Read more and watch the :shock: hair-raising video about the Lorraine fire, deterioration and restoration at this link: http://corporate.heritageproperty.ca/Ou ... fault.aspx

More quotes:

The Lorraine was badly damaged by fire, infested with pigeons, and structurally unsound—not a good candidate for restoration.

But (Neil) Richardson believed that if he rebuilt and restored the building, the tenants would come. He was right. With a new roof, restored fa¸ade and a rebuilt interior, the Lorraine fits right in with the historic streetscape...

http://www.heritagecanada.org/eng/servi ... _pop15.htm

....Credit the skills and hard work of the trades and others who tackled the renovations of the Lorraine, which was officially declared a provincial historic resource in 2002. The fire had destroyed virtually all of the fourth floor and parts of the third. The lower floors were spared from the flames but were severely damaged by all the water used to put out the blaze.

Furthermore, the building sat for almost a year with no roof, exposed to the elements and anybody who felt like gate-crashing the neglected structure. During that sad, thankfully temporary, phase in the Lorraine's 90-year life, Calgarians were reminded of history's fragility with so many early structures long gone.

From Business Edge, October 23 2003
http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/4209.cfm

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The Lougheed Building

Then:
Image
Now:
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Photos and blurb below from www.heritageproperty.org. To read more and see the restoration video:
http://corporate.heritageproperty.ca/Ou ... fault.aspx
In 1998 a development permit was granted by the City of Calgary authorizing the demolition of the building to be replaced by a 22-storey office and retail complex. Fortunately the building was purchased in 2003 by Heritage Property Corporation, which successfully fought to secure Historic Resource Designations for the Lougheed Building at both the municipal and provincial levels. The Heritage Property Corporation has since completed the delicate process of restoring and rehabilitating the building by incorporating essential modern conveniences and technologies with the architectural charm and grace of the early twentieth century.

Some quotes:

"The building is desperately in need of some major work and its uneconomic to be doing that... I have a problem continuing to lose money owning a building that's coming to the end of its economic life." (then owner) Clive Beddoe of the Hanover Group. Calgary Herald, September 6, 1998.

"The logic of downtown Calgary indicated that such a central site can attract a higher level of demand fo utilization of space than the existing building can provide... Obviously, on a purely economic basis, coupled with the planning intent and anticipation for the property, it is difficult to justify retention of the existing building... On balance, there seems to be very little to support the view that the building deserves to be saved... The most appropriate possibility for the Lougheed Building would lie in the incorporation of all or part of the existing principal facade into a new development proposal... The proposition of including an element of the old facade must, however, find an economic rationalization to accompany the streetscape considerations..." - column by Peter Burgener in the Calgary Herald, April 10, 1999.

"The historic components of the building were taken out many, many years ago... It was principally the theatres that were the issue. They were taken out many, many years ago and they were gutted back in the '50s. There's four walls left - that's what's left" - (then owner) Clive Beddoe of the Hanover Group. Calgary Herald, November 5, 1999.
(to see what has become of the theatre, www.atthegrand.ca)

"The province will not be designating the Lougheed Building as a historic resource... After reviewing and assessing all the factors regarding the property it was determined it was not in the public interest (to save it)" - a spokesperson for Alberta Community Development. Calgary Herald, November 5, 1999.

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Burns Building

Cartoon from www.glenbow.org
Date: February 27, 1980

"My view on the preservation of the Burns Building? It's undecided ... Why do you ask?"
Image

Today:
Image from www.westerntour.com
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By the late 1970s the Burns Building’s fate seemed sealed:

Mayor Rod Sykes was nearly beaned by a piece of terra cotta falling from the old, neglected building. The city took it over as part of the site for the new Civic Arts Complex. Eventually the building was deemed a fire hazard and its demolition seemed a foregone conclusion. Concerned citizens and a few aldermen fought for preservation but it was believed that the rehabilitation of the building would be too expensive. Others felt that the constraints placed on the Civic Arts Centre by the necessity of maintaining the both old Public Building and the Burns Building were too restrictive. Mayor Ross Alger lobbied hard for demolition, but lost by a single vote in 1980. Extensive restoration and renovations were done between 1981 and 1984 and the building was declared a Provincial Heritage Resource in 1987.

Adapted from a posted article by the Calgary Public Library Local History Room, August 4 2009. Read the full blog entry here:
http://blog.calgarypubliclibrary.com/bl ... story.aspx


It would simply cost a fortune to repair it – the work required would be more like a complete reconstruction than mere renovation… The end result, I am afraid, is that the Burns must fall... why not follow the example of the Greyhound (sic – Herald Building) gargoyles, and save the beautiful Burns lions for some other public structure…?
- Patrick Tivy, Herald columnist, January 25, 1980

The provincial government, in letter to council, said it doubts the Burns Building will ever be declared a historic resource… “This (preservation) is wishful thinking,” (Mayor Alger) charged.
- Single vote saves Burns Building, Calgary Herald March 12, 1980.

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King Edward Hotel

The oldest portion of the King Eddy will be saved in a new project for the Cantos foundation that has attracted proposals from leading architects from around the world. (see this link for more: http://www.calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/vi ... =1779#1779)

But it wasn't always the case:

In August 2004, the King Eddy was condemned by the Calgary Health Region, which cited a dangerous level of mould, not enough toilets and unsanitary conditions. The city bought the famed hotel, renowned as a blues club, for the land, and planned to tear down the building for the 4th Street underpass. - CBC.CA, December 1 2005

At its brand-new best, it was a bit of a dive. Now, a year and a half after cockroaches and mould sealed the King Eddy's doors, and possibly its fate, the old hotel is a decaying wreck... Even if the building remains structurally capable of withstanding a major renovation, no one is sure it's worth the trouble. Even if the estimated $4 million needed to gut and rebuild the condemned hotel is found, there's a sense that rebuilding the Eddy would be akin to polishing a turd... - Michael Platt, Calgary Sun, December 11, 2005

Image from:
http://hotelsnews.wordpress.com/2008/06 ... the-world/
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One of the 5 proposals for the Eddy (at left), from Allied Works/BKDI. For more, go to http://cantos.ca/kingeddy/designs-on-calgary-event/
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Last edited by newsposter on Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:27 am, edited 3 times in total.
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