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After sitting vacant for more than a year, the exterior of the former Hudson’s Bay building on Calgary’s Stephen Avenue has seen some better days.
There are cracked tiles along the iconic arcade that wraps around the building, and chips in the granite of the arched ceilings. At least one ground floor window is smashed.
The building will soon be in the hands of new owners. In late May, an Ontario judge approved the sale to Calgary-based developer Astra Group.
Astra Group would not comment before officially taking control of the building.
The initial court filing for Astra’s purchase noted that the costs of maintaining, insuring and safeguarding the property while vacant has been substantial, without putting a number on the total.
All Hudson’s Bay stores closed by June 1, 2025.
The Calgary building, at 200 Eighth Ave., was constructed in 1913 and later expanded. The building would become a prototype for HBC buildings in other cities, including Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Erika Topola, executive director of Heritage Calgary, says it’s not unusual for commercial buildings to develop signs of neglect when they sit vacant.
“When nobody’s in the building, and the eyes aren’t on the street, some of these heritage properties can go a little sideways until new owners pick it up and do the repairs,” Topola said.
Calgary-based developer Astra Group is buying the former Hudson’s Bay building on Stephen Avenue, but would not comment on the state of the building’s exterior before officially taking possession. (Ryan McLeod/CBC)
Despite its somewhat shabby outward appearance, the building isn’t in too bad shape, according to one expert whose work focuses on heritage buildings across the country.
“From what I’ve seen, some of the damage to the building seems quite light,” said Chris Wiebe with National Trust for Canada.
“I think these building are much more robust than we often give them credit.”
A key priority, Wiebe says, is keeping the building watertight to avoid internal damage.
And, he says there is always a risk that a building without a purpose, particularly one already showing cracks, will attract more damage.
The city says citizens can submit complaints about the upkeep of buildings under the community standards bylaw.
What’s next for the building
The building is not designated a municipal historic resource by the City of Calgary, which would prevent its demolition or require approval from the city to alter certain historic elements.
Astra Group has not yet said what it plans to do with the building. Its website says the developer transforms “underutilized properties into high-performing residential and commercial spaces.”
The Hudson’s Bay building on Stephen Avenue was constructed in 1913, and expanded in the years that followed. It would serve as a prototype for other Bay buildings in major cities. (Chelsey Mutter/CBC)
Topola said Heritage Calgary has faith the new owners will repair the damage and conserve the building.
That’s important, she said, because the building holds a special place in the hearts of many Calgarians.
“You cannot go on Facebook or Instagram and not see someone who got married who has their photos here, or has family photos here, or who you’ve talked to and they have a memory of coming down here with their grandpa and grandma,” she said.
“This building was not just a retail hub, it was a community hub, and it was built with that in mind.”