Downtown Hudson's Bay building deteriorates as summer nears

Concerns are mounting over the increasingly dilapidated condition of the vacant downtown Hudson's Bay building as the summer tourist season approaches, with visibly crumbling tiles, stripped brass trim, and burn marks raising questions about both safety and the city's visual appeal.

The six-storey Chicago commercial-style building, closed for retail operations over the past year, has accelerated its deterioration while in receivership. Heritage Calgary's executive director Erika Topola said the transformation from landmark to eyesore has happened quickly. "It can flip really quickly from being beautiful to (homeless) encampments and fires," she noted.

The building's 114-year history and architectural significance—including ornamental Centre Street Lions at each entrance, carved maple leaves, buffalo heads, and Scottish thistle symbols—has gone largely unprotected. When Hudson's Bay signage was removed, Topola said, it "sort of put a sign on it that it can be demolished."

But recent ownership by Astra Real Estate Corp., a company with a solid track record converting downtown properties, has given preservationists cautious optimism. Current tenants—a ground-floor restaurant and sixth-level event centre—provide some property security. A potential historical designation could unlock restoration funding and prevent demolition. "Sometimes you have to make it through the muck to see the light," Topola said, noting Astra understands the heritage value and will pursue upgrades that could make the building designateable.