thager
10-15-2011, 01:20 PM
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/14/ogden-landmark-comes-down?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recommend-button&utm_campaign=Ogden+landmark+comes+down
Roadblocks will be going up on Deerfoot Tr. early Sunday morning while a demolition crew takes an Ogden landmark down.
The Cargill-owned grain elevator, which has been a part of the area skyline since it was built in 1915, is set for demolition at about 8 a.m.
The massive concrete structure, in the city’s southeast industrial area near the Bonnybrook wastewater treatment plant, has been deemed dated and inefficient for modern-day purposes.
It was decommissioned in January and operations were relocated to a newer facility east of Calgary.
Thousands of people came to watch when the 900-bed General Hospital in Bridgeland was imploded, seven buildings destroyed at once, on Oct. 4, 1998.
Police anticipate the demolition will similarly draw a crowd of spectators and space has been made for them to watch it unfold from a safe distance, spokeswoman Emma Poole said.
“Certainly demolitions in the past have drawn a number of spectators,” she said.
“Cargill has set up a public viewing area.”
While Poole anticipates there could be traffic headaches for motorists using Deerfoot Tr. at Glenmore Tr. and other affected areas, she said it will be brief and roads will be re-opened once the dust settles.
“It should be less than 10 minutes,” she said.
“Deerfoot is a road you don’t want to close at any time, but this is a situation where it can’t be avoided.
“We are hoping because it is early enough on a Sunday morning, disruption will be kept to a minimum.”
Those wanting to find a spot at the viewing area are advised to show up around 7:30 a.m. at 15 Ave. and 46 St. S.E.
Due to the potential for dust clouds from the site, it is recommended people with respiratory problems not attend or else take necessary precautions.
Area Ald. Gian-Carlo Carra said there were admirable efforts by heritage activists to try save the building, but ultimately they conceded it isn’t, perhaps, feasible.
He said they have, instead, done extensive documenting of both the building interior and exterior so there is a record of it once it is gone.
“There was a realization as important as a historical landmark as this is, there isn’t way to re-use it,” he said.
“You can’t turn it into an apartment building, because it’s across the street from a wastewater treatment plant.”
Ald. Druh Farrell said losing the landmark is sad.
“It’s a difficult location, I understand the difficulty of it but I don’t know what was explored,” she said.
“It is a disappointment to the heritage community.”
Cargill spokesman Mike Morlock said they anticipate about 1,000 people will come to witness the demolition.
The land will go up for sale once the demolition is complete.
“We will be with a commercial real estate agent in Calgary,” he said.
“We haven’t set a final price.”
[email protected]
Roadblocks will be going up on Deerfoot Tr. early Sunday morning while a demolition crew takes an Ogden landmark down.
The Cargill-owned grain elevator, which has been a part of the area skyline since it was built in 1915, is set for demolition at about 8 a.m.
The massive concrete structure, in the city’s southeast industrial area near the Bonnybrook wastewater treatment plant, has been deemed dated and inefficient for modern-day purposes.
It was decommissioned in January and operations were relocated to a newer facility east of Calgary.
Thousands of people came to watch when the 900-bed General Hospital in Bridgeland was imploded, seven buildings destroyed at once, on Oct. 4, 1998.
Police anticipate the demolition will similarly draw a crowd of spectators and space has been made for them to watch it unfold from a safe distance, spokeswoman Emma Poole said.
“Certainly demolitions in the past have drawn a number of spectators,” she said.
“Cargill has set up a public viewing area.”
While Poole anticipates there could be traffic headaches for motorists using Deerfoot Tr. at Glenmore Tr. and other affected areas, she said it will be brief and roads will be re-opened once the dust settles.
“It should be less than 10 minutes,” she said.
“Deerfoot is a road you don’t want to close at any time, but this is a situation where it can’t be avoided.
“We are hoping because it is early enough on a Sunday morning, disruption will be kept to a minimum.”
Those wanting to find a spot at the viewing area are advised to show up around 7:30 a.m. at 15 Ave. and 46 St. S.E.
Due to the potential for dust clouds from the site, it is recommended people with respiratory problems not attend or else take necessary precautions.
Area Ald. Gian-Carlo Carra said there were admirable efforts by heritage activists to try save the building, but ultimately they conceded it isn’t, perhaps, feasible.
He said they have, instead, done extensive documenting of both the building interior and exterior so there is a record of it once it is gone.
“There was a realization as important as a historical landmark as this is, there isn’t way to re-use it,” he said.
“You can’t turn it into an apartment building, because it’s across the street from a wastewater treatment plant.”
Ald. Druh Farrell said losing the landmark is sad.
“It’s a difficult location, I understand the difficulty of it but I don’t know what was explored,” she said.
“It is a disappointment to the heritage community.”
Cargill spokesman Mike Morlock said they anticipate about 1,000 people will come to witness the demolition.
The land will go up for sale once the demolition is complete.
“We will be with a commercial real estate agent in Calgary,” he said.
“We haven’t set a final price.”
[email protected]