Calgary

Calgary's Hart House to be declared a heritage site

The former home of Calgary's famous Hart family is now a heritage site.

Council approves rezoning to allow houses to be built around the former home of the famous wrestling family

The Hart House is best known as the home of Stu Hart; the man who started Stampede Wrestling and trained a number of wrestling superstars including his sons Bret and Owen Hart. (cszmurlo/Wiki Commons)

The former home of Calgary's famous Hart family is now a heritage site.  

Hart House — located on Broadcast Hill in the southwest — is where Stu and Helen Hart raised their wrestling family.  

A new owner bought the mansion a decade ago and has renovated it. Mayor Naheed Nenshi says the designation is important for a couple of reasons.

"One is the quality of the building itself which is really something quite remarkable and the second of course is the place that building has played in local history," Nenshi said.

"It is, you know, in a city that has a short history as we do. It's important to recognize what we do have and I understand that the current owners are completely on board with that designation."

City council also approved a rezoning plan for the property that will allow the new owner to build nine new homes on the site which will range in size from 2,800 to 3,400 square feet.

The development plans will help pay for the renovation and ensure the mansion is preserved.

The Hart family bought the house in the early 1950s and raised 12 children there, including wrestling superstars Owen and Bret Hart.