Mission landmark - Aberdeen Block news

Status of new or continuing risks to heritage sites

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Mission landmark - Aberdeen Block news

Postby newsposter » Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:50 am

:!: This page is being frequently updated. News stories on top of the photos, history of the building below the photos.

Link to Herald editorial (July 26), City newsrelease (July 26), and a letter from the Cliff-Bungalow Mission community [July 28] also posted below.

:D Latest news: Deal reached to avert demolition (Sept. 12). See the last post for more...
_________________________________________________________

Landlord's demolition bid shocks businesses
Calgary Herald - Sunday, July 23, 2006

Ald. Madeleine King is asking the owner to reconsider demolishing (the Aberdeen block) at 4th Street and 22nd Avenue S.W. Mission residents and business owners are fuming over the possible demolition of a 95-year-old brick building on 4th Street S.W.

"It's a tragedy," said Pat Maiani, president of the Cliff Bungalow-Mission Community Association. "It's one of the oldest structures in one of the oldest communities in Calgary."

Link to full story (free)
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... af&k=24854

More stories:
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/200 ... 3-sun.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/ ... lding.html

Herald Editorial July 26:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... c0c21ce807

:arrow: If you want to comment to area alderman Madeleine King you can contact her at madeleine.king@calgary.ca.
Contact information for other aldermen and the Mayor are listed at this link: http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall ... y+ward.htm
A cc. of your letter to info@calgaryheritage.org is appreciated.
Herald photo:
Image


Image

History of the Wright (Aberdeen) Block.

From: Walking Tours of Calgary, Harry Sanders

Aberdeen Apartments (Wright Block)
Address: 2204-4th St. SW
Style: Edwardian Commercial
Architect: Unknown
Date: 1912

"Dr. Harry P Wright (1874-1921), a dentist from Prince Edward Island, built this two-story residential/commercial building as the Wright Block shortly after moving to Calgary with his wife Emma around 1910. By 1917, for reasons now unknown, it was called the Aberdeen Apartments. Wright died in his forties, and his widow later lived in the building, which she continued to own for decades. Jimmie Condon (1889-1981), a well known merchant, developer, sports promoter, and restaurateur, owned the Mission Grocery in the corner storefront at 4th Street and 22 Avenue between 1925 and 1945. Older Calgarians remember Condon though his landmark Jimmie’s restaurant in the Alberta Corner building, across 8th Avenue from the downtown Hudson’s Bay store. University alumni are familiar with the statues of Greek philosophers on the campus of the University of Calgary that the Turkish-born, ethnic Greek Condon donated.

In the 1970s, this was the home of My Marvin’s, a well-remembered restaurant that introduced a generation of Calgarians to Kosher-style deli food. The similarly styled Sam’s Original Deli took over the same space by the 1980s.”

From: Calgary Historical Walking Tour: Mission and Cliff Bungalow, City of Calgary and Alberta Community Development

“In 1912, James W. Young moved the J.W. Young Printing Company to the Wright Block, the retail and apartment building across the street (from the Young Block, built 1912,at 2120 – 4 St. SW). The printing business was taken over and run by the Dichmont family until the 1940s.”

Today the building is occupied by Sushi Kawa retaurant, Antonio’s Garlic Clove restaurant, Aida’s Mediterranean Bistro, the Gallery of Canadian Folk Art, and Bistro 2210 at the retail level with 14 apartments on two levels above.
Last edited by newsposter on Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:52 am, edited 9 times in total.
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Postby josh white » Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:12 pm

This threat sickens me like no other. I hope CHI is very active in trying to save this building. Let me know how I can help.
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Postby newsposter » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:31 pm

See the posts above for more information on the Wright-Aberdeen Block, including history and links to news stories.
________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release

CITY OF CALGARY RELEASES FURTHER INFORMATION ON APPLICATION FOR DEMOLITION OF ABERDEEN BLOCK

CALGARY - July 26, 2006 - The City of Calgary has released further information on the demolition application received for Aberdeen Block, located at 2202-2210 4 St. SW.

The owners, who had initially applied to redevelop the building, had met with City Staff in September 2005. At that time, The City expressed satisfaction with the revised design, however, full drawings have not been received by The City.

"We like to take a collaborative approach when dealing with applicants,"
said Gary Klassen, The City's Director of Development & Building Approvals.
"City staff met with the building owners several times to get to what we thought was a consensus on design."

The building owner, however, has been recently quoted in the newspaper as indicating a failure on the part of City staff to negotiate an acceptable design as the reason to abandon the building redevelopment and demolish instead. A demolition permit application for the Aberdeen Block was received on July 20, 2006.

Community residents and tenants are concerned with the demolition of what they consider to be a community landmark and are pleading with the owner to reconsider demolition.

"We have arranged to meet with the applicant to determine if further discussions would help change the owner's decision and keep the building,"
said Klassen.

Design concepts relative to heritage buildings are reviewed by City staff in accordance with "Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Sites in Canada" to ensure quality of design.

-30-

BACKGROUND: ABERDEEN BLOCK

· A land use amendment to allow for a lodging house and apartment
hotel use in the Aberdeen Block was approved by Council on July 24, 2003.

· In July 2004, pre-application discussions with the applicant
provided feedback to the applicant on preliminary design concepts for the Aberdeen Block.

· On September 30, 2004, The City received formal applications for a
development permit and for 'change of use' to be a bed and breakfast.

· Extensive discussions, including some City relaxations, resulted
in the approval being narrowed to an issue of the design of the caretaker suite which was being added as a new fourth floor on the building. The guidelines (Standard Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Sites in
Canada) used for the review reflected the need for changes to the exterior design of the caretaker suite.

· In April 2005, the design for the building was presented for
review and comment to the Urban Design Review Panel. The UDRP (comprised of peer architects and designers) also recommended a revision to the design.

· On September 20, 2005, the applicants met with City
representatives to review a revised design for the building. The City expressed satisfaction with the revised design, however, full drawings have not been received by The City. The applicant's architect advised The City (at a later date) that the applicant would not be proceeding with the project at that time.

· On July 20, 2006, approximately eight months later, The City
received a demolition permit application for the building.

· All demolition permit applications are reviewed by The City to
identify potential heritage sites that may be threatened. The City makes every effort to work with owners to find collaborative ways to preserve significant heritage sites.

· The Aberdeen Block has been evaluated by the Calgary Heritage
Authority, using Council-approved heritage evaluation criteria. The evaluation resulted in the Aberdeen Block being listed as a Category "C"
site on the Inventory of Potential Heritage Sites.

· City policy states: "'Category C' sites or buildings are
significant potential heritage resources and their preservation is encouraged by The City of Calgary. Strategies with respect to sites or buildings in this category should be decided in response to the significant
aspect(s) of the site."

-30-
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Postby newsposter » Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:58 am

City meets owners over demolition

Calgary Herald

Friday, July 28, 2006

City staff and the owners of a 95-year-old building in Mission held discussions Thursday to determine the future of the local landmark.

"Discussions will be continuing," said Gary Klassen, the city's director of development and building approvals...

For more information see above. For full story, click this link (paywall):
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... eaf4eba258
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Postby newsposter » Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:05 am

Herald Editorial (July 26) on Aberdeen Block
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... c0c21ce807

See above for the City of Calgary newsrelease, issued later that day, giving their side of the story.

Mission Community response to Herald editorial - authored July 28:

re: - End the hassles over our heritage - Editorial July 26

It’s encouraging to see indications that the majority of Calgarians are truly concerned about the threat of losing yet another Calgary landmark, the Aberdeen Apartments. Unfortunately, in the historic neighbourhoods of Cliff Bungalow - Mission surrounding the Aberdeen and Fourth Street SW, there are over twenty other heritage buildings on death row, awaiting demolition. It’s not only one building we should be concerned about, but a hundred years of history that is being destroyed.

The Herald editorial board is correct when you state the current process of protecting buildings of historic value is ineffective. The city has recently approved a new Area Redevelopment Plan for Mission, which “encourages the preservation of older character homes and apartments”, and provides the community with stronger guidelines. But even after the senseless demolition of St. Mary’s school, no new legislative changes have been made to prevent the loss of other significant heritage properties.

Ironically, it is Calgary’s hot economy that may do the most for heritage preservation in the city. In the last year, we have noted a premium placed on ‘vintage’ homes and properties in the Cliff Bungalow - Mission neighbourhood. Speculators are calling off the bulldozers and selling the buildings to people who truly appreciate their character and history, and are willing to pay for it, in any condition.

While we encourage the city, and the province, to create and amend legislation to exercise our rights to protect our civic history, and our heritage and development committees will continue to work to find solutions to these problems, we respectfully suggest Ms. Carscallen may find it more expedient to put the Aberdeen up for sale. She could surely double the amount she paid for the building six years ago, and hopefully, the new owner will appreciate the building as it is, and as it has been for the last century.

Sincerely, Patrick Maiani
President, Cliff Bungalow Mission Community Association.
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Postby newsposter » Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:27 pm

FFWD article, August 3, 2006

Character assassination
Mission residents fear loss of heritage buildings to rapid redevelopment


Mission residents are becoming increasingly concerned about their community losing its character and soul due to intense redevelopment pressure.

The possible demolition of the 95-year-old, Edwardian, Aberdeen Block on Fourth Street, which houses Aidas Mediterranean Bistro, Sushi Kawa, Bistro 2210, Antonio’s Garlic Clove, the Gallery of Canadian Folk Art and 14 apartments, is garnering the most concern at the moment.

Full article: http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2006/0803/news1.htm

For more information see above posts.
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Postby newsposter » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:50 am

Calgary Herald

September 12, 2006

Mission block saved from wrecker's ball

The city and the owner of a 95-year-old building in Mission have reached an agreement that should save the Aberdeen apartments from being demolished... Full story: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... ebb5d17faa
Also:
http://www.am770chqr.com/news/news_loca ... _local.cfm

A development permit has apparently been issued - we have not seen the plans. More information as it becomes available.
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Postby newsposter » Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:36 pm

The Cliff Bungalow - Mission Community Association is appealing the approval of the Aberdeen Block development permit. The appeal goes to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board on October 26.

As I understand it (look for more from them in the upcoming edition of the Mission Statement) they object to the character of the rooftop addition, and also to what they believe was a failure of the development approval process following the owner's demolition threat, which bypassed community consultation and arguably undermined some principles for treating heritage buildings. Below is the timeline for what happened, as layed out by the City in a July 26 news release(updated here :arrow: by newsposter).
________________________________________________________

BACKGROUND: ABERDEEN BLOCK

· A land use amendment to allow for a lodging house and apartment
hotel use in the Aberdeen Block was approved by Council on July 24, 2003.

· In July 2004, pre-application discussions with the applicant
provided feedback to the applicant on preliminary design concepts for the Aberdeen Block.

· On September 30, 2004, The City received formal applications for a
development permit and for 'change of use' to be a bed and breakfast.

· Extensive discussions, including some City relaxations, resulted
in the approval being narrowed to an issue of the design of the caretaker suite which was being added as a new fourth floor on the building. The guidelines (Standard Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Sites in
Canada) used for the review reflected the need for changes to the exterior design of the caretaker suite.

· In April 2005, the design for the building was presented for
review and comment to the Urban Design Review Panel. The UDRP (comprised of peer architects and designers) also recommended a revision to the design.

· On September 20, 2005, the applicants met with City
representatives to review a revised design for the building. The City expressed satisfaction with the revised design, however, full drawings have not been received by The City. The applicant's architect advised The City (at a later date) that the applicant would not be proceeding with the project at that time.

· On July 20, 2006, approximately eight months later, The City
received a demolition permit application for the building.

[Newsposter adds :arrow: In mid-September 2006 the City approved a development permit almost identical to the original proposal, which had originally been deemed deficient.]

· All demolition permit applications are reviewed by The City to
identify potential heritage sites that may be threatened. The City makes every effort to work with owners to find collaborative ways to preserve significant heritage sites.

· The Aberdeen Block has been evaluated by the Calgary Heritage
Authority, using Council-approved heritage evaluation criteria. The evaluation resulted in the Aberdeen Block being listed as a Category "C"
site on the Inventory of Potential Heritage Sites.

· City policy states: "'Category C' sites or buildings are
significant potential heritage resources and their preservation is encouraged by The City of Calgary. Strategies with respect to sites or buildings in this category should be decided in response to the significant
aspect(s) of the site."

Source - City of Calgary newsrelease, July 26, 2006, except :arrow: by newsposter.
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Postby newsposter » Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:57 am

The appeal of the Aberdeen block addition was heard last Thursday November 9. By a 3-2 vote by the Subdivision and Development Appeal board the community association appeal was defeated. That means the owners can proceed with plans to convert to a bed and breakfast, and to build a rooftop addition, the design of which was the source of the controversy. The City had previously rejected a very similar design, but turned around when the owners threatened to demolish the building. The appropriateness of the design and the compromised process were the basis of the community appeal. All sides in the dispute wanted to see the building preserved. We'll post an image of the design when we can put our hands on one...

You can read about the this in the latest November/December edition of the Mission Statement (these are not archived, so if you want to keep this issue you should download it):

http://www.calgaryarea.com/pdf/cliffe.pdf
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Postby newsposter » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:05 am

Work happening on the empty site immediately behind the Aberdeen building in Mission - a new condominium called 'Destiny'. This is good news as the consolidation of the Destiny site and the Aberdeen site could have been an existential threat against the brick landmark...

http://www.destinyliving.ca/site/index2.html

Image
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