REGINA — Heritage Regina is hoping to preserve part of a historical building which could be facing demolition.
On Wednesday, Regina city council will be presented with a report on the future of the Credit Foncier Building at 2184 12th Avenue.
City administration has recommended that the building be demolished, with the current property owner, Western Limited, entering into a heritage easement and covenant agreement, reporting on what parts of the building will be salvaged.
Jackie Schmidt of Heritage Regina is concerned that there is a loophole in the recommendation.
The recommendation reads, “the property owner would be required to prepare and submit a salvage and documentation plan describing what significant heritage features on the façade will be salvaged and how the work will be undertaken and submit such plan to the city for approval prior to any demolition.”
“[So], the developer, who possibly will buy this building, can get away and say, ‘well, I'm sorry, it's just not feasible for us to put up this building anymore," notes Schmidt.
In their delegation submission, Western Limited has recommended that the entire building be demolished.
“Given the prohibitive cost, practical, and safety constraints, full conservation rehabilitation is not feasible. For reasons more fully developed below, demolition is the only realistic path forward to ensure the property transitions into safe, productive use for the community.”
The building has suffered damage over the years, primarily from the Gordon Block fire in 2023.
According to Western Limited, fully restoring the building would cost over $3.5 million.
Schmidt understands restoring the building isn’t feasible, but she wants the city to retain and underpin the two Tyndall stone façades on the front side of the building.
Under the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District Bylaw, it states, "the re-creation of the original character of the buildings should always be a priority. The removal or alteration of any historical materials or features should be avoided whenever possible.”
Any alteration of a building is subject to the bylaw, and the developer is required to have a heritage conservation permit.
Historic value
The building was first constructed in 1911, and remains one of the few built before World War I.
When the building first opened, the Credit Foncier Franco-Canadien Mortgage Company Ltd. occupied the space until 1988.
After 1995, the building was acquired by the Western Canadian Bank.
The building had still been in use until 2023.
Schmidt said losing the building will remove a piece of history from the City of Regina.
Referencing the demolition of the Gordon Block after the 2023 fire, Schmidt feels Regina cannot afford to continue removing historical sites.
“We can't keep knocking these buildings down and possibly putting them back up at a later date. It just won't happen.”
Schmidt is confident council will make the right choice to preserve part of a historical building.
