Owner loses fight, Cook house approved for heritage designation

The house was bought with the intention of turning it into something new. The owner said he had numerous plans, including the possibility of condos, but he wasn’t specific. However, a decision by Regina’s City Council means the Cook house will stay firmly in the past.

On Monday night, despite protestations from the owner, council approved a decision to designate the house at the corner of Albert Street and Hill Avenue as a Municipal Heritage Property.

Late last year, Carmen Lien bought the house for $625,000 and soon after put in a request for a demolition permit.

That got things going on the heritage front, as the house was on a list under the Heritage Holding Bylaw, which protects those homes from being torn down. A series of reports and decisions landed this question at Monday’s city council meeting.

Half a dozen speakers stood to call for the house to be designated a heritage property, thereby leaving it as it is.

“The idea that the Cook residence could fall to land speculation with the simple intent to profit from its strategic location is untenable,” said Meredyth L. McCreary. She said she has a “thing” for older home, and cited the building’s style and historical relevance in her argument for its heritage status.

“It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful houses in Regina,” said Lynn Goldman in her presentation to city council. She said she was speaking on behalf of her neighbourhood, Lakeview, and her city.

In a report prepared by the administration for city council, there are three points made for the house’s significance: much of it discussed the home’s architectural style – Tudor revival. Its association with the development of the Lakeview neighbourhood in the period between world wars was mentioned, as well as its connection to the architectural firm Van Egmond & Storey.

The new owner, Lien, spoke to council as well. He argued the house’s style isn’t rare – it can be found even in modern homes in Regina – and that the home doesn’t have enough historical significance for a heritage designation.

In his arguments he pointed out things like the fact there’s never been an event of historical significance on the property, and that the architectural firm had close to 400 buildings commissioned in Regina.

“I saw house in major distress, a house that sits on arguably the top three prominent corners of Regina, and I wanted to do better. I wanted to bring life back to this corner, and I saw an opportunity to develop something great and continue Albert Street’s legacy.”

Lien said he spoke with the city before buying the property and he did know about its inclusion under the Heritage Holding bylaw, but he said he thought being moved from there to the actual designation was voluntary.

“If there was any indication from administration that the property had significant heritage value at that day, I would not be here today,” said Lien.

Being designated a heritage property severely limits Lien’s options in development. He said he’d gotten an estimate on restoring the home, and it would cost about $2.5 million, which he said isn’t feasible. That number was contested by some others who presented.

When city councillors were able to question Lien, some of them took him to task for complaining about the designation when he knew before he bought the building that it was on a list.

Ultimately councillors voted to move the property from the holding bylaw to be designated as a Municipal Heritage Property, leaving Lien to figure out what to do with his property now.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated the owner was looking at replacing the building with something new. The story has since been clarified following new details from City Council.