City to discuss fates of former Artery, Graphic Arts buildings

Two historic buildings that face the wrecking ball will now have their fates discussed at city hall on Friday. 

The city's executive committee will consider a report on the Mitchell and Reed Auction House — former home of the Artery — and the Graphic Arts Building. The issue was originally scheduled for discussion Tuesday but was bumped to later this week. 

The city purchased the site of both the buildings, which it says is needed to build a laydown yard for the Valley LRT line. City administrators say use of the land will reduce costs and might ease traffic congestion during the construction. When the project is done, the land could be sold for development.

However, the decision has dismayed both art and heritage groups in Edmonton. Both buildings have been used as centres for artists and performance spaces for musicians.

The auction house, built in 1908, is listed as one of the city's historical resources. The Graphic Arts Building isn't on the list, but a city report notes that it the 1938 structure is "a rare example in Edmonton of Art Deco design."

Coun. Scott McKeen says council needs to decide whether losing the buildings is worth making it easier and cheaper to build the LRT.

"I just want to be clear that if we were to demolish those buildings, there needs to be a damn good reason to do it," he said.

"And there may be."

McKeen said he was initially upset at the way the city seemed to be "callous" in the way it decided to demolish the buildings. But he said since the area was approved for redevelopment, it might have been thought the buildings would be taken down anyway.

The councillor said the city must do more to protect spaces for arts and culture in the city. He said it's an "age-old" problem that all cities face: artists being drawn to low-cost areas of the city, and then being forced out as the area becomes more attractive to development.

"We need to find ways to help artists remain in areas that they uplift," he said.

"They are the ones that bring the vibrancy to an area that attracts the developers and buyers ... well, it's hip and cool because the artists went in and made it so."

The city report mentions the possibility of demolishing the buildings, but saving the historically-significant elements for later use, an approach McKeen called "a middle position that will make nobody happy."