Blue Store Building in Inglewood to Become Condos
Calgary city council voted unanimously to rezone the century-old Blyth Block for a mixed-use development that will preserve the neighbouring Carson Block heritage site.
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A century-old building that has housed Inglewood's long-serving corner store will be demolished after Calgary city council voted unanimously Tuesday in support of a rezoning to redevelop the parcel.
The mixed-use development at the corner of 9th Avenue and 13th Street S.E. will include up to six storeys and 65 housing units. The project wraps an L-shaped apartment dwelling around the Carson Block, a 1912 building currently home to the Dirty Duck Pub and residential tenants, which will be retained as a designated heritage site.
The "Blue Store" building, built in 1923 and originally a dance hall, housed Inglewood Food Mart and Video and was recognized by its bright blue exterior. The city's heritage inventory called it a "rare example of an inter-war commercial building" and a "distinctive, vernacular example of Spanish colonial revival style" architecture.
Area councillor Harrison Clark noted the project represents the first example of a developer retaining and integrating Inglewood's heritage into their design. "This is as close to retaining the historic nature of this block as we could get, at this point," Clark said. "Alternatively, we could decline it and they could demolish it and start from scratch."
A development permit was submitted last November and is anticipated to be approved this summer. Parking for tenants will be underground, with access off 13th Street rather than 9th Avenue.