[Only The Lonely..]

Historic building's facades saved

Thu Jun 21 2007 | Winnipeg Free Press

City hall thinks it has a compromise solution that can save a historic building in the Exchange District and allow the owner to develop the property.
Council downgraded the historic designation of the property at 104 King St., which requires the preservation of two street facades but allows the owner to demolish the rest of the four-storey structure.

"The city has been in conversation with the owner," Mayor Sam Katz said Wednesday. "This makes sure the facade remains."

The building, owned by Bedford Developments, was constructed in 1895. It's considered a prominent structure in the west Exchange District, having significant street facades facing King Street and Bannatyne Avenue. The building had an historical designation which would prevent it from being demolished or any part of the exterior altered.

But a report to city hall found that Bedford Developments allowed the building to deteriorate to the point where it's structurally unsound and will likely collapse this winter.

Bedford has tried three times to have the historic designation on the building removed so that it can demolish the structure but each time the city has refused.
The compromise will allow Bedford to maintain the building's street appearances along King Street and Bannatyne Avenue while allowing it to demolish the rest of the building.

However, this is an expensive approach, one undertaken by the province in developing the Red River College Princess Street campus, which requires the two exterior walls to be braced and supported while the rest of the building is removed and a structure is built behind the two remaining walls.

If the preservation work is begun by the fall, the city can authorize the work to be done and add the expense to the property tax bill.

A spokesman for Bedford Developments could not be reached for comment.