Once the venue for big-name stage talent of the early 20th century, Calgary’s historic downtown Grand Theatre could once again be staging regular live theatre if a now-tentative sale goes through.
“It’s a great deal for downtown,” said Carol Armes, general manager of Theatre Junction, which has made an offer on the theatre.
The four-storey building is now owned by Heritage Properties Corp., which refurbishes historic buildings.
Its previous projects have included the Lorraine Building in the 600 block of 12th Avenue S.W. and the North West Travellers Building in the 500 block of 1st Street S.E.
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| Mike Sturk, Business Edge |
| Heritage Properties president Neil Richardson has a tentative buyer for Calgary's Grand Theatre. |
“We’ve done a conditional sale,” confirmed company president Neil Richardson. “The ball is now in their court to do their due diligence.”
The price is confidential until the deal closes.
The brick-and-sandstone Grand Theatre and the adjacent six-storey Lougheed Block – which was damaged March 10 in an early-morning fire – share a party wall fronting 1st Street S.W. Their mechanical and electrical systems are separate, so the buildings can be renovated separately, Richardson said. The city has agreed to provide $3.4 million over 15 years to help make the historic building economically viable.
Heritage faces a September deadline to apply for federal funding, and Richardson expects to start inside renovation work in the fall and outside work next winter.
Armes said the Grand will have to be renovated, but added it has the right footprint because it was originally designed for theatre. The Grand was the largest theatre in Western Canada in 1912, offering 1,500 seats when Calgary’s population was 50,000.
“I think it was just a statement by Calgary that, ‘We’re here,’ ” said Armes. “Calgary has always been bold and stepped out.”
Theatre Junction currently operates out of the Betty Mitchell Theatre in the lower level of the Jubilee Auditorium. It performs a full season from September to May, featuring four mainstage productions and a mini- festival.
