Regina 'eyesore' apartment building gets heritage designation

Regina city council spent more than an hour Wednesday debating whether it should award heritage designation to an apartment building that council members and even the owner's representatives concede is an "eyesore". 

"I certainly don't blame whoever made the eyesore comment," said Ross Keith, owner of the Nicor Group, a company representing the owners of the Prince Charles Place. 

The 13-storey tower is located south of Regina's downtown on 15th Avenue and overlooks Central Park. 

Heritage designation is meant to ensure the features of designated buildings are preserved.

Orange brick exterior, projecting balconies and a flat roof are among the building's architectural features, while an architectural report said the apartment complex represents the construction and population boom of the 1960s.

After the Second World War, advances in "construction materials and techniques allowed developers to construct high-rises taller and less expensively than before," the report by city staff reads. 

Keith said that since the building was purchased a few years ago they've done considerable work to stabilize and upgrade the interior. 

That includes the installation of two new elevators, two boilers and fixing structural problems in the parkade and parking ramp. 

"We haven't done anything that shows yet, but believe me, we've done a great deal of work in the building," Keith said. 

He added that they plan to bring a coffee shop and interpretive features as they continue to upgrade and improve the building. 

Council would ultimately approve the heritage designation for the building in a vote of 8 to 3 with Coun. Dan LeBlanc, Coun. Landon Mohl, and Coun. Terina Nelson (formerly Terina Shaw, now using her maiden name). 

While the building's heritage status was itself controversial, a good chunk of the debate Wednesday focused on the taxpayers' money that could potentially be spent on such projects — a topic that wasn't actually part of the decision in front of council. 

Buildings that receive a heritage designation are eligible for a maximum $50,000 grant and 10-year tax exemption, according to the planning commission.

But under the city's new heritage policy there is no cap on the amount tax exemptions — which made some councillors uncomfortable with signing off on the heritage designations in front of them.

Coun.  Lori Bresciani expressed concern that if there were no cap, developers would take advantage of the policy and take away a significant chunk of tax revenue. 

The Nicor Group currently pays $97,000 in annual property taxes on Prince Charles Place. 

City administration stressed to council that the process of receiving a heritage designation and applying for any potential benefits are done separately. 

Even if a property developer does receive a heritage designation for their property it does not mean they will receive all of or even any of what they applied for. 

Council will also have the final vote on whether the property owners receive the benefits. 

It still took council multiple hours of debate to approve the heritage designation for the Prince Charles Place and eight other buildings spread throughout Regina. 

Mayor Sandra Masters offered her thoughts on a possible cap on benefits in a post-council scrum Wednesday. 

"I think there's just some follow up in terms of trying to be ensuring we're fully fiscally responsible on it and not necessarily all of them are going to apply for grants or for property tax exemption," she said. 

She stressed that the heritage designation policy remains a work in progress.