Arlington Apartments (Edmonton) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arlington Apartments |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Edwardian |
| Town or city | Edmonton |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 53°32′20″N 113°30′09″W / 53.5390°N 113.5024°W |
| Construction started | July 1909 |
| Completed | November 6, 1909 |
| Demolished | November 24, 2008 |
| Cost | $130,000 |
| Client | Arlington Apartment Company (consortium of local business leaders) |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 5 storey |
| Design and construction | |
| Engineer | Robert Grant |
The Arlington Apartments, also known as The Arlington, was a very important building in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was the first ever apartment building to open in the city, back in 1909. This five-storey building had 49 apartments and was made of red brick. It stood at 100 Avenue and 106 Street for many years. The Arlington was a great example of the fast growth Edmonton experienced before World War II. It survived for a long time, even into the 21st century.
Contents
The Arlington Apartments: A Historic Building
Building a Landmark
The Arlington Apartments were built by a group of local business leaders. They formed a company called the Arlington Apartment Company. These leaders wanted to create a modern place for people to live.
Construction of the building started in July 1909. Robert Grant, an engineer from Winnipeg, supervised the work. The building was finished quickly, by November 1909. It cost about $130,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then!
Life at The Arlington
The Arlington Apartments quickly became a popular place to live. Many professionals and artists chose to make their homes there. It was known as a stylish and convenient place in the city.
Over the years, the building changed owners a few times. In 1932, Northern Investment Agency bought it. Later, in 1943, G. Patrick Ryan purchased it and started Arlington Apartment Limited. The building continued to be a lively home for many people until the 1970s.
A Protected Piece of History
Because of its importance, the Arlington Apartments were recognized as a historic site. In 1995, it was named a Provincial Historic Resource. This meant it was protected by the province of Alberta. A few years later, in 1998, it also became a Municipal Historic Resource. This added protection from the city of Edmonton. These titles showed how special the building was to Edmonton's history.
The Fire and What Happened Next
Sadly, in 2005, a big fire badly damaged the Arlington Apartments. The building was left in ruins. After the fire, there were many discussions between the city of Edmonton and the building's owner, Saraswati Singh.
The city wanted to save parts of the old building. They asked that the original brick walls be kept and used in any new construction. In 2007, the owner agreed to try and include three of the old brick walls in a new 20-storey building.
Demolition Day
However, the plan to save the old walls didn't work out. In 2008, the architect said it was too difficult to use the old bricks. They asked for permission to tear down the rest of the ruins. They wanted to rebuild the front of the building with new bricks.
In September 2008, the city finally gave permission to demolish the building. The demolition began in mid-November 2008. The historic Arlington Apartments were completely taken down.
