My op-ed on the Shaarey Tzedec was published in today's (Wednesday, November 14, 2012) issue of the Calgary Herald
Karshenbaum: Historic districts are built one building at a time
By Irena Karshenbaum, Calgary Herald November 13, 2012
Read more:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Ka...#ixzz2CG6YjIDu
When Calgarians started demolishing early 20th century buildings two generations ago, they couldn’t envision that their actions denied us our heritage. They were thinking only of themselves, without considering how the past fit into the future.
Had they been more thoughtful, Calgary would have had vibrant historic districts. We would have had the Mansion District along 13th Avenue S.W.; instead, we have the lone surviving Lougheed House. We would have had a Stephen Avenue Walk stretching from the Barron Building to Inglewood; instead, it barely spans five blocks.
The Cathedral District, recognized by the Mission neighbourhood area redevelopment plan, published in 2004, contains the greatest concentration of Catholic sites: CNR Station (formerly St. Mary’s Parish Hall), Sacred Heart Convent, Rouleau House, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the House of Israel.
Completed in 1949, the art deco House of Israel community centre was the Jewish community’s toehold into the Catholic neighbourhood.
In 1959, the Jewish community built the Shaarey Tzedec synagogue in the adjoining lot. The mid-century modern building — currently the newest heritage period — was only the city’s second synagogue. The House of Jacob, built in 1911, was the city’s first. It was demolished, despite a massive community outcry, in 1968 to make way for Bow Valley College.
The demolition of the House of Jacob, which was at the heart of the now obliterated Jewish district, wiped away an entire physical history of the neighbourhood. In 2011, the House of Jacob’s presence was acknowledged on the Bow Valley College building with a plaque.
The city’s tiny Jewish community drifted south. In 1991, the Shaarey Tzedec was sold to the Centre for Spiritual Living.
In March 2012, the City of Calgary added the Shaarey Tzedec to its historic resource evaluation list, which states, “The Shaarey Tzedec Synagogue is highly valued as a symbol of the strength and perseverance of the Jewish community to build the first synagogue since the House of Jacob.”
It notes the synagogue is, “Also significant for its stunning and dynamic modern-style architecture.” The evaluation rates the building as having “citywide significance” and observes it “is in remarkably original condition.”
Strong words — only, the city refuses to give the evaluation power. Instead, it is only the first step an owner must take to protect a heritage building.
In May 2012, the Centre for Positive Living sold the site to KingSett Capital based out of Toronto (75 per cent interest) and Calgary’s John Torode (25 per cent interest).
Torode filed development plans, which were approved in September 2012, which would see the Shaarey Tzedec demolished to make way for a mixed-use condo development.
In reviewing the plans, no consideration was given to the site’s history, architectural significance or context within the neighbourhood. Neither heritage experts nor anybody from the Jewish community with heritage expertise was consulted. The city simply stated, “The subject building has been identified by Heritage as meriting some form of recognition in the new development, in the form of an interpretive plaque.”
The Mission area redevelopment plan, written by the city, also contains goals, principles and policies to protect “historical significance of the community” and encourages “adaptive reuse of historically significant sites.”
In having voiced my opposition to this development, I have learned the city is not actually willing to do anything to protect any heritage building in Calgary.
What does the city’s heritage department do? It documents heritage buildings and encourages owners to put up plaques over the graves of heritage sites.
That’s it.
At this rate, no heritage building will ever be protected, especially given how much non-resident investment money is flowing to the city.
And yet, the Shaarey Tzedec is completely unique to Calgary’s history and should be allowed to live in an adaptive reuse form to preserve its history and leave future generations options as to its use.
Religious buildings are being abandoned everywhere today as fewer people are attending churches and synagogues. The adaptive reuse of religious sites is a vibrant, sophisticated and environmentally wiser option than demolition.
Religious sites are being converted to restaurants, concert halls and living quarters around the world. The idea isn’t even new to Calgary. The Wesley United Church was converted to the Arrata Opera Centre.
In terms of the Shaarey Tzedec, its demolition would be tragic. The fact it hasn’t been used as a synagogue for more than 20 years is irrelevant — religious buildings have a different concept of time. It is the only example of its kind that survives in Calgary today.
Why do ill-conceived developments metastasize while heritage shrinks? The city needs to stop playing pansy and enforce its own policies.
Developers have a responsibility to learn local history and integrate their plans to fit the local heritage.
Heritage districts can only be created through the thoughtful preservation of one building at a time.
Irena Karshenbaum is a writer and heritage advocate who led a project that gifted to Heritage Park a synagogue that had been abandoned for more than 80 years.
irenak@shaw.ca