Calgary Tower Development Threatens Historic Sites

A downtown development proposed for Calgary’s Stephen Avenue in Canada has major implications for several historic sites in the area, Calgary Herald reports. The proposal, from local firm Triovest, is for a mixed-use, three-tower complex. One of the towers, a 66-floor condo skyscraper, would become the tallest building in Western Canada. Heritage Calgary officials say 15 historically significant sites would be affected by the project, including five that are legally designated as heritage buildings. Sites designated as municipal heritage resources legally can’t be demolished or significantly altered, leading to questions over how the developer plans to approach these buildings. Some of the Stephen Avenue buildings are among Calgary’s oldest, dating back to the 1890s. According to a development permit and schematics submitted by Triovest to the city, the two westernmost buildings on the block — Central United Church and the historic BMO Building — would be retained, as would some building façades. Some buildings on the east part of the block are marked for demolition. The Calgary planning commission will evaluate and make a recommendation on the application before passing it to city council, which has the authority to rescind heritage designations. Two sites on the Stephen Avenue side of the block are also designated as heritage resources provincially, meaning the province’s minister of culture would have to rescind that designation before development could occur, according to the source.