Hart-Crandell House news

[newsposter]

Updated December 2010. Go to the bottom post for the latest.

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First posted January 11, 2006...


The Hart House owner, residents of Patterson Heights, some Hart family members, Ald. Craig Burrows and others have been debating the future of the historic Crandell-Hart house and the surrounding property. See photo below.

In April Calgary Planning Commission approved a plan for the Hart/Crandell house site that would preserve the historic house while building townhouses around the property. The plan has changed several times since it entered the public process late in 2005. Some neighbours have opposed the plan (or some versions of it) due to issue such as density, traffic, architectural style of the townhouses, or views. Some have proposed that the Hart house should become a public facility like the Lougheed House.

The developer says that the condos are necessary to fund the retention and repair of the house and City planners agree. The proposal is supported by the Calgary Heritage Authority (see below for a link describing their role) because it saves the house, which will be designated a municipal heritage site. CHI agrees that the proposal going to Council is a fair deal for heritage. On rare occasions public authorities spend public money or use overriding legislative power (e.g. provincial heritage site designation) to preserve a heritage site. But typically there is a negotiation with the owner, giving them added density for their project (for example) in exchange for preserving heritage. Many heritage resources are preserved in this way.

Here is the administration report to Calgary Planning Commission regarding the Hart House. It is a pdf file. http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/pla ... 4_0098.pdf

NEW The latest plan, with a reduced number of townhouses, is posted on Ald. Burrows’ website: http://www.craigburrows.ca/090606_files/page0009.htm

NEW Specific changes include:
• Overall density reduced from 21 to 16 units;
• Development form changed from townhouse to semi and single-detached;
• Mass reduced with the elimination of 5 townhouse units;
• Views increased to the Crandell-Hart House with the introduction of separations between the units;
• Visitor parking increased from 8 to 13 stalls

NEW Here is a link to the Council Agenda, including links to the latest plan:
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/ ... %2D06%2D19

A letter from Ald. Burrows to the province, seeking designation as a provincial heritage site. If the province agrees, this would preserve the house and perhaps stop the townhouse development: http://www.craigburrows.ca/15_files/page0023.htm

This will be debated at a Public Hearing of City Council on June 19. If you have any comment, the area alderman is Craig Burrows, craig.burrows@calgary.ca, or you can contact your own Alderman. As always, a cc. to info@calgaryheritage.ca is appreciated.

You can find the latest news about the Hart House on Ald. Burrows' site, www.craigburrows.ca - click on Current Events and follow the links.

For a 2004 story about the Hart/Crandell house, go here:
http://www.cren.ca/content_view2?CONTENT_ID=1602

Here is a link to the CHA: http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall ... hority.htm

Glenbow photo on the Calgary Real Estate News website:

[newsposter]

Compromise often best deal

Calgary Herald Editorial

Saturday, May 13, 2006

A final showdown over the future of the storied Hart house is expected to take place Monday at City Hall (CHI note - this was put over to June 19 to allow changes to the plan and to allow one last chance for the provincial heritage authorities to intervene) . Neighbours are fighting to stop the approval of a special development plan that would let the new owner build more townhouses -- with a higher density -- than is permitted under the area's zoning.

On the surface, it seems the neighbours have a valid point. Why should owner Dario Berloni be given special privileges? The city's planning commission has approved rezoning of the nearly one-hectare property to allow 20 townhouses, instead of the maximum 12.

The commission now wants council to give final approval, following a public hearing on Monday. Council should do just that, mainly because Berloni has agreed to save the historic landmark. He plans on restoring the 1905 building to a single-family home. Such a project is costly, with little upside economically. Berloni has said the profit from the higher density development will go toward the restoration.

As well, he has shown a spirit of co-operation, scaling back his original development plan from about 40 townhouses to 20, and now has agreed to build only 16 -- just four more than the zoning permits.

The neighbours are getting worked up over four more townhouses. The real issue here is why the city has to negotiate with developers in order to save heritage properties. Under the Alberta Historical Resources Act, the city has the authority to designate and protect any property it deems of significant heritage value.

There's no disputing the significance of the Hart property. It was built by businessman Edward Crandell in 1905, used by the Red Cross for orphaned and convalescent children following the First World War, and was later purchased by Judge Henry Patterson. And then, Stampede wrestling patriarch Stu Hart bought it in 1951.

Under the Heritage Act, the city must compensate owners for loss in economic value. It's often difficult for two parties to agree on what that economic value might be. To get around this, the city only designates properties once it has consent from the owner, usually offering incentives such as grants, special rezoning status and, in the case of the Lougheed House, a freeze on property taxes.

Unless the province changes the law to remove the compensation clause -- as happened recently in Ontario -- the city has done the best it can.

And the Hart house lives on. Sometimes, a compromise is the best deal -- often the only one --to be reached.

[newsposter]

[newsposter]

On June 19 City Council rejected a proposal from a developer that would have saved the historic Crandell-Hart House while building condominiums around the property. The proposal (described above) lost on a tie vote. The fate of the Crandell-Hart House remains uncertain.

Here is a link to the Herald story (free as of June 20):
"Hart House townhouse plan rejected"
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... 926&k=1141

Here is a link to the Herald editorial (free as of June 20):
"Snap in Hart house deal tests developer's good will"
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... a29b5e67df

See above posts for more.

New: Link to the minutes of the June 19 Council meeting where the Crandell-Hart House proposal was lost:
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/ ... %2D06%2D19

[newsposter]

A revised Hart-Crandell House plan was approved by Calgary Planning Commission on September 7, 2006, and will be addressed at the October 16th Public Hearing Portion of City Council.

Alderman Craig Burrows is holding an Open House on October 10th from 7:30 to 9:00 at the Calgary International French School.

To view the plans and related documents, click here:
http://www.craigburrows.ca/Craig%20Burr ... ge0009.htm

The long story of this development is documented above.

[newsposter]

Latest news regarding the Hart House proposal and the rough ride it is getting from some of the neighbours. The CHI position remains that the proposal, which preserves the historic Hart-Crandell house, is a good deal for heritage. http://www.craigburrows.ca/Craig%20Burr ... ge0009.htm

New Plan For Hart House Unveiled Oct, 10 2006 - 11:00 PM
CALGARY/AM770CHQR - A new scaled down proposal for the Hart House and the land around it still has many residents opposed to the plan.
An open house on the new proposal was held Tuesday night in Calgary.
The developer has scaled back his plan to thirteen units surrounding the hart house, from the sixteen that city council rejected.
Alderman Craig Burrows was once again warning residents the house could be demolished if the owner is turned down.
The issue goes to a public hearing at city council Monday.

[newsposter]

October 15, 2006
Dear Mayor and Aldermen,

The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society wishes to reiterate its support
for the newly modified development proposal that would preserve the
Crandell-Hart House that is being addressed at the Monday October 16, 2006 City Council hearing.

The house has been the home to a number of prominent Calgarians, including brick magnate Edward Crandell, who helped build early Calgary, and Judge Patterson, who lived here for many years. The Red Cross used the house as an orphanage and it was important to many children. The last residents were the famous Hart family, icons in the world of wrestling, who are probably some of the best known Calgarians in the world. The Harts opened their home to many people over the years and as a result it is one of the best known homes in Calgary.

The brick house was a landmark on the hill to those travelling on Sarcee
Trail. It is now surrounded by suburban development, but very few
significant heritage buildings still stand outside of the core of the
city. This is one of them. Our desire is for this house to continue to
be a tangible, visible connection to our heritage. We are pleased that
the current owner feels the same way.

Through several iterations of this plan, the owner has offered to
permanently protect the house through municipal historic designation in
exchange for approval to develop housing on the remainder of the site.
This particular proposal has earned the unanimous support of Calgary
Planning Commission and also of the Calgary Heritage Authority. The
Calgary Heritage Initiative Society recognizes the significant efforts of
the owner and the City to produce a proposal that is fair and reasonable
and protects the house, and we also support the proposal.

But if Council is unable to approve this development, we ask that you move to designate the property as allowed by the Historic Resources Act, or negotiate to buy the house and land, designate it, and put it back on the
market or find another suitable use.

Regardless, we ask that Council not allow the Crandell-Hart house to be
demolished by rejecting all of the viable options to save it. This
heritage site is far too important to be lost forever because of the
disputed details of this particular development proposal.

We again commend Alderman Craig Burrows and City Staff for their hard work on this challenging file. We are very pleased to see such a significant effort by so many people to preserve this important piece of our heritage.

Regards,

Janet Woolgar, President
Calgary Heritage Initiative Society
info@calgaryheritage.org
www.calgaryheritage.org

For your reference, our previous comments from the June public hearing:

June 16, 2006
Dear Mayor and Aldermen,

The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society supports the proposal regarding
the Crandell-Hart House being addressed at the June 19 public hearing. It
is important that this historic building be preserved. The development
proposal, which results in the municipal designation of the Crandell-Hart
House, is a fair deal for heritage.

We commend the owner for his commitment to the building, as well as
Alderman Burrows and other individuals whose efforts have resulted in the
latest iteration of the plan. We also want to acknowledge the efforts of
all those who have worked, from various perspectives, to preserve the
Crandell-Hart House.

Regards,

Janet Woolgar,
President
Calgary Heritage Initiative Society
info@calgaryheritage.org
www.calgaryheritage.org

[newsposter]

The Hart House development proposal, to designate the house as a historic site and build new housing on the surrounding property, passed at City Council on October 16 - not without controversy. See above for more and these news stories:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/200 ... 7-sun.html
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... e68e15c659

Canoe/Sun photo:



From www.craigburrows.ca (current from Front Page as of Oct 20 2006):

Dear residents,

For the past two years, I have worked with many of you on reaching a satisfactory resolution regarding the development and preservation of the Hart House property. This issue has created much concern.

At my Open House on October 10th, I wanted to hear your thoughts on the application at hand, so that I could better represent you at Council. I overwhelmingly heard that the primary concern was the roof top patios. As such, I asked Council to amend the application and remove the roof top amenity space. Unfortunately, Council did not support the amendment.

Moving forward and looking at the positive side, this application has been reduced from over thirty units, to 14 units. The Hart House will be preserved and restored without any cost to Calgarians. I would like to thank the Community Association members, past and present, for all their efforts towards saving the Hart House. I would also like to thank every resident who took the time to share their thoughts with me and my staff.

I have posted a copy of the concept designs below, for anyone wishing to view what the finished project should look like. If you are interested in further information, please contact my Community Liaison Karen McKay at karen.mckay@calgary.ca.

[newsposter]

It's been awhile since we posted news of the Hart House. Check out this article about it's renewal in the December 2010 edition of Avenue Magazine:

A Hart House Christmas
The historic Hart House gets a major restoration and renovation, and a touch of holiday spirit
Published December 1st, 2010

http://www.avenuecalgary.com/articles/p ... -christmas