REGINA — A historic Regina building has been demolished.
As of Monday, the old Credit Foncier Building, located at 2184 12th Ave., is now a pile of rubble.
Built in 1911, the Credit Foncier Building remained one of the few structures in Regina built before the First World War.
Its name came from its previous occupants, the Credit Foncier Franco-Canadien Mortgage Company Ltd., which occupied the space from 1912 until 1988.
Reasoning behind demolition
In 2023, the building suffered major damage from the Gordon Block fire and was left unoccupied.
In December, the owners presented a case to Regina city council on their reasons for wanting to demolish the building, citing ongoing challenges over the last two years.
“The unoccupied building quickly became the target for theft, including things like the beautiful brass railings in the interior stairwell,” said Adrian Burns, president of Western Limited, during the initial discussion.
The building had also lost gas, water and electricity after the demolition of the Gordon Building, and the insurance company would not cover the cost.
Remediation of the building had been pegged at $2.314 million, which did not include the cost of taxes, overtime, design, consultant and engineering fees.
Councillors agreed to approve the demolition, acknowledging the financial constraints faced by the owners.
What happens next
Despite its demolition, parts of the building have been salvaged.
The structure’s facade and any significant heritage features will be stored.
In the short term, the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District plans to use the site for The Skuare, a temporary outdoor hub celebrating local food, arts and culture.
In the future, Western Limited intends to sell the land to a new property owner.
