Smoke filled the downtown air last March when the Kelly-Ramsey block went up in flames. Arsons set the fire which heavily damaged the Kelly-Ramsey Building. Built in 1926, it seemed as though the building couldn’t be saved. But rather than lose the historical structure, it is being restored.
"It’s a pretty iconic building in a very iconic location," said John Day. The Edmonton lawyer has taken on restoration projects in the past including the Jasper Avenue Sobeys and the Garneau Theatre. Now, he has purchased the Kelly-Ramsey Building from creditors for $4M.
His plans are to bring something new to downtown while preserving a piece of the past. But to do that, the building needs to be taken apart.
The limestone, bricks, and other architectural details will be taken down, catalogued, and moved to a different location while a new building is put up. The pieces will be brought back and restored when the structure is complete.
The new building will include an underground parkade, store-front retail, and an additional two floors made of glass and steel. The new, modern element combined with the historical look is a complimentary contrast according to architect Darrell Halliwell.
"The historic part is very important, and the new part of it is going to be that little bit of a beacon at the top of the building which lights up the downtown," Halliwell told Global News.
Some public funding will go towards the restoration, but the amount is currently under negotiation.
Rebuilding will not start until at least two floors have been leased.
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