By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Burgman building designated as Municipal Historic Resource by Lethbridge City Council

Aug 21, 2018 | 2:54 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The 105-year old Burgman Building in north Lethbridge (418- 13 Street N.) is the first structure on 13 Street N. to be given a heritage designation.

At Monday’s meeting, Lethbridge City Council gave second and third readings to Bylaw 6126, allowing the building to become a Municipal Historic Resource.

The building, with distinctive and creative brickwork patterns on its facade, was constructed by Richard Burgman between 1912 and 1913 and was home to the north side post office, various pharmacies, a hardware store and even the local farmers’ market over the last century. A coffee house now occupies the first floor of the building.

Burgman also helped to construct other buildings including the old York Hotel just two blocks away (259 13 Street N.).

Councillor Belinda Crowson says the landowner will now be eligible to apply for funding for renovations and upkeep.

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“When a building is designated, it can then apply for grants from the provincial government. And it’s matching grants up to $50,000. Most people never get the $50,000 – that’s the maximum you can possibly apply for. You can do that, you know, every year.”

Crowson says the designation also provides a surety about the building; that if work is going to be done on the building, permission needs to be granted to do so, and it must comply with certain standards. But it also gives the building owners access to provincial and municipal experts in heritage building restoration.

And local structures like the Burgman building help keep the character of the city alive.

“Can you imagine if every community was a cookie-cutter,” asked Crowson. “You wouldn’t have any sense that you were home. When you drive into a community, you look for those buildings that make something different. And the other thing that we actually know about historical buildings, they hold their value higher than modern buildings when times get tough.”

There are other buildings on the north side that also have the historic designation, including Berte’s and George’s old grocery store on 9 Avenue N near 8 Street N.

And for those who visit from out of town, or just want to explore the history of the city, Crowson says it’s something different to do.

“Old, historic areas draw tourists. It creates that sense of place. And one of the things about historic buildings that we really recognize- think about it: restaurants, coffee shops are in those buildings, because we like hanging out in historic buildings.

“They’re like old friends that welcome you home.”