Owner applies to tear down 98-year-old building

A Calgary alderman is fighting to save a brick building in the city's Mission district from demolition.

The Aberdeen Block at 4 Street and 22 Avenue SW is home to several restaurants and apartments. But the building's owner recently applied to demolish the building.

Ald. Madeleine King said she doesn't want to see the block torn down.

"It's in the heart of the Mission area on Fourth Street and it is part of a core group of Edwardian commercial structures," she said. "It's much loved and it's beautiful, warm, red brick."

The city has no legal way to stop the demolition, she added.

Owner prefers renovations

Stan Carscallen, whose wife, Gail, owns the building, said she applied two years ago for a permit toturn the apartments into a bed and breakfast inn.

Part of the redesign is a small manager's residence on the roof. The city approved the residence, but told Gail Carscallen to give it a flat roof, not a peaked one, he said.

"That is the sum total of the disagreement," Carscallen said.

"It's entirely up to city administration. They can decide whether this building will continue or not. We're just as happy to go either route. We would prefer to do the renovation."

Carscallen said heknows of several companies that would develop the land if the Aberdeen Block was torn down.

Daryl Cariou, the city's senior city heritage planner, said his department has not heard from the owner since a revised plan for the roof was sent to her in September.