Hart House to be restored, town homes built

Calgary city council has approved a condo development around a historic mansionthat was once hometo a well-known wrestling family.

Thirteen town homes will be built around the brick mansion, which overlooks the Bow River.

The proposal had upset neighbours, but a promise from the property owner of fewer units anda fully restored and preserved Hart House swayed the majority on council Monday.

The restoration, expected to take three years,will be under the auspices of the city's heritage planner.

"It's very meaningful to have someone come forward who's going to treat it with respect," said Alderman Madeline King.

Barring any further appeals, construction of the condos could begin next summer.

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, some of them, like Bret (The Hitman) Hart, his own sons.

Hart House was built in 1905 by Ontario brick baron Edward Henry Crandell.

The Hart family bought it in the early 1950s and raised 12 children there, all of whom had some connection to professional wrestling.