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Background on current status:
The President Apartments was recently added to the Municipal Inventory of Potential Historic Sites (category B). On December 16, 2005 the new owners submitted a land use application to the city to allow redevelopment of the site and in March 2006 they applied for a demolition permit. On March 30, in response to strong support for the President from the community, CHI, Alderman King and many individuals, the owner had a change of heart and the demolition permit application was withdrawn. In June the community and CHI members were shown an innovative new proposal that would save the President Apartments and incorporate it in a new development. On July 20, 2006 a new land use application was made for redevelopment including preservation of the historic resource. This land use passed in March 2007. A development permit application was made in May 2007 and went to Calgary Planning Commission Feb 2008. A bylaw for historic designation was to go to City Council in March 2009, but did not go forward due to the owner deciding to subdivide the property, which would change the designation bylaw. Awaiting an update on that. In the meantime, with the change in teh economy, the redevelopment seems on hold and the President, vacant for several years, is being prepared to open up again as a residential apartment.
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Click here for historical information and photos:http://calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/viewtopic.php?p=164#164
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In the fall of 2005 the President was purchased by the developers of the Renoir Suites condos - long planned for the empty lots to the west: http://www.renoirsuites.com. They are considering modifying their project by incorporating the President in the development and/or transferring unused density from the President to another site. Demolishing the President is also a strong possibility.
At this point (March 15, 2006), comments with regard to the potential demolition of the President Apartments are best directed to Alderman Madeleine King:
Madeleine.king@calgary.ca
And cc to
darryl.cariou@calgary.ca (City Heritage Planner)
info@calgaryheritage.org (that's us, so we can help your voice be heard)
planning@beltline.ca (the community association planning group)
If anyone has more news or comments, please feel free to post. The latest information is at the bottom of this thread.