The Calgary Heritage Authority (CHA) was created to celebrate history by protecting and preserving resources within the City’s borders.
Each year, budget depending, an area of Calgary is targeted to research and document to add historical properties to the 500+ citywide CHA-approved inventory list.
This year, 19 properties in upper Mount Royal have been or will be reviewed by a consultant the CHA hired to note the historical elements each building possesses, explained Clint Robertson City of Calgary’s heritage planner of centre city planning and design.
“We’re always trying to expand and update the inventory, which was started in 1982,” he said, noting at that time approximately five upper Mount Royal residences were a part of the inventory.
More were added within upper Mount Royal’s boundaries in 1995, but financial resources did not become available again until now to pursue research into outstanding resources (residences) the CHA believed had historical merit.
Robertson said resources must meet at least one of nine criteria to be considered an eligible property with heritage value: Activity, event, institution, person/ people, design, style, construction, landmark or symbolic value.
The property must not be altered so much its heritage has been altered by the renovations.
Last year, 70 resources were researched and documented citywide — a record number for the CHA in one year — with 17 in Cliff Bungalow-Mission. To have 19 within upper Mount Royal researched, it’s a notable chunk for the committee to review in one community.
