By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Oliver Building Back Up for Sale After Rezoning

May 17, 2016 | 11:32 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Some certainty surrounding the Oliver Building’s future development has been decided upon.

William Oliver, who was a Lethbridge alderman and four-time mayor, built it along 5 Street South nearly 110-years ago, with largely locally made bricks and unique architectural features.

Following a public hearing, council agreed on Monday to change its zoning to Direct Control.

“There really is no grey area, it’s rather a black or white issue. We really want to make sure we keep the historical significance intact,” explained Councillor Ryan Parker, who moved the resolution to change the zoning from Downtown Commercial.

“More importantly it’s the facade, just the way the building originally was supposed to look. So, whatever gets built there will look exactly, if not very close to what’s there today.”

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Direct Control restricts the range of land use normally permitted or discretionary. Any sort of automotive uses, like auto body or paint shops, parking facilities, vehicle sales or rentals and service stations, will not be permitted.

It will also better capture the vision of the Heart of Our City Master Plan and Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan.

The City of Lethbridge took ownership of the Oliver Building in 2014 as a property tax settlement, and didn’t know what to do with it after that. But Parker said council has heard “loud and clear” that the community doesn’t want it to be demolished.

An open bid is now available until early June.

by Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Oliver Building Back Up for Sale After Rezoning

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