Latest news with #MainStreetProgram
CBC
07-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
114-year-old Gresham Block torn down in Calgary's Inglewood neighbourhood
Social Sharing Calgary's Gresham Block is being demolished this week, bringing an end to a hallmark of the city's Inglewood neighbourhood for more than a century. The 114-year-old building was a key piece of the history of Calgary's commercial core. The three-storey, Edwardian-style brick structure sat on the south side of Ninth Avenue S.E., and was long home to both residential and commercial units. The city describes the Gresham Block as a local landmark, a building that was once an integral part of the commercial activity that made Ninth Avenue S.E. Calgary's high street. It's included in Calgary's Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources, a list of sites where preservation is considered to be the greater benefit of Calgarians. Historic retail and residential building in Inglewood torn down 44 minutes ago Duration 1:46 The Gresham Block was initially occupied by Canadian Pacific Railway employees, and its main-floor commercial units were home to grocers, a department store, meat market, cafe and more, for over a century. But its listing on the local Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources provided no legal protection to halt demolition State of disrepair Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra, who represents the neighbourhood, is disappointed to see the building go. But he traces issues with the building's maintenance and future back to the 1990s when Inglewood received funding from the federal government's Main Street Program but the Gresham Block didn't participate. "Its opportunity 25, 30 years ago to sort of get its feet underneath it was not taken, and it is in a state of total disrepair and really can't be salvaged," Carra said. The Ward 9 representative said he hopes its demolition will kick-start conversations on the best way to preserve Inglewood's heritage buildings. He also said he's hopeful about a new building to replace it that can help take on Calgary's housing crisis. But what's unusual about the Gresham Block's demolition is that didn't occur with a concurrent development permit for a new building in its place, Heritage Calgary CEO Josh Traptow said. Traptow worries this practice can lead to old, beloved buildings being demolished and sitting vacant for years or turned into parking lots, which happened to the Cecil Hotel in East Village after it was torn down 10 years ago. The possibility for a heritage building to be replaced with a vacant lot represents a gap in city policy, which could be cleaned up, Traptow argued. "Whether they're heritage or not, having a vacant site sit there is probably not the best use of that piece of land at the end of the day," Traptow said. But on Tuesday, Carra said he understands a 200-unit building with a potential grocery store on the main floor will go up in the Gresham Block's place, built by a proven developer partnering with the former building's owners. He didn't provide further details on the site's future. Need for affordable housing in Inglewood The Gresham Block's demolition is a rare loss for Calgary of its classic turn-of-the-century buildings, Traptow said. "Its loss will be felt, and it starts to eat away at that historical Main Street that I think lots of Calgarians love and enjoy," Traptow said. He added there were still residents living in the Gresham Block recently. Because the building housed smaller and older units, it offered affordable housing, and it could be a challenge for its former residents to find a new place to live at a similar price. Carra acknowledged that replacing an old, end-of-life building with something new will inevitably lead to higher rent, but said the solution is for more housing supply overall in Inglewood, including more non-market solutions. "The answer, especially in high-demand neighbourhoods, is more supply at all price points," Carra said.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City targeting blighted properties
CATLETTSBURG After recently implementing a tax increase on blighted properties, the City of Catlettsburg will begin compiling a list of deteriorating real estate as their next action in cracking down on neglected areas. Council members referred to several locations in need of attention during a special-called meeting on Thursday evening, specifically downtown and off U.S. 23. As councilwoman Susan Campbell inquired about utilizing eminent domain, city attorney Sonny Martin said some properties of concern had already been cited or were in the process of litigation, anticipating default judgement against non-responding property owners could open the door for the city to begin demolition or clean up efforts. While no action related to blighted properties was taken just yet, Mayor Faith Day instructed council members to compile a list of addresses they were concerned about or were made aware of by citizen complaints. Day said after compiling the addresses, the city could begin looking into title searches and issuing more citations when necessary. The discussion of vacant or blighted properties downtown led the council to the topic of utilizing Kentucky Heritage Council's Main Street Program, which could allow grant monies to fix up properties on the historic registry. Councilman Randy Salyers said he was under the impression the city was already listed as a participant in the Main Street program. Councilwoman Mindy Stanley said from her understanding, participants of the program had to be admitted through their local government, but documentation wasn't signed off by Mayor Day, resulting in the city not being in good standing with the organization's requirements. The council as a whole appeared to be unsure if Main Street participation would require funds from the local government or whether Catlettsburg was a listed participant, and if not, whether they could fix the city's standings with the organization for admission. According to Kentucky Heritage Council's website: 'Main Street efforts can be initiated by anyone in the community, not just the local municipality. Citizens interested in finding ways to create more sustainable solutions to downtown development can begin to participate and work with their local partners including local government and slowly build the capacity to apply to be a Main Street community. Communities should reach out to the state office to obtain information on the program and the application process which includes an in person presentation by the community.' Despite the discussion, no action was taken on the matter. In other happenings from Thursday: • Councilwoman Rose Marcum was designated Mayor Pro-Tem due to receiving the highest vote count in the previous election. Marcum will serve in the mayor's capacity in the event Day is not present. • Mayor Day said she had hired an employee in a clerical role at city hall on a seasonal basis, adding she is waiting to bring the employee before the council for hire on a full-time basis following the completion of municipal clerk training this summer. Stanley said the city had been without an official clerk for over a year. Susan Maddix, City Clerk for Ashland, is currently serving as interim city clerk.
