Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The Artery)

and the Graphic Arts Building

Historical Significance (S. McKeen)
Recommendation:
That the September 15, 2015, Sustainable Development report CR_2309 be received
for information.
Report Summary
This report responds to an inquiry regarding the historical significance of the
Mitchell and Reed Auction House and the Graphic Arts Building, and provides
information on the requirement for a temporary lay down area for the Valley Line
LRT project.
Previous Council/Committee Action
At the March 17, 2015, City Council meeting, Councillor S. McKeen made the following
inquiry:
It is our understanding that the Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The Artery) and the
Graphic Arts Building are on the City of Edmonton's Heritage inventory.
Given that the City of Edmonton recently purchased these properties, can
Administration please provide information available on the historical significance of
these buildings, as well as the responsibility of the City to preserve them.
Given that these properties were purchased to provide temporary lay down space for
the Valley Line LRT project, can Transportation Services provide information on why
this space is needed?
Report
The Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The Artery) and the Graphic Arts Building are
two of three buildings Administration acquired when the properties located at 9523,
9531, and 9539 Jasper Avenue were purchased in March 2015 (Subject Properties).
This opportunity purchase was done to assist LRT Design and Construction by
providing additional space for a construction lay down yard for the Valley Line LRT
project. When no longer required for the Valley Line LRT project, the Subject Properties
may be consolidated with other nearby lands to create a large, developable parcel to
achieve the redevelopment goals of The Quarters Downtown Urban Design Plan and
Area Redevelopment Plan.
Development of The Quarters Downtown Plans involved extensive public consultation
with the community and other stakeholders. During the public consultation process, it
was understood that trade-offs would need to be made that might include demolishing
ROUTING Executive Committee | DELEGATION - W. Trocenko
September 15, 2015 Sustainable Development CR_2309
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Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The Artery) and the Graphic Arts Building Historical Significance (S. McKeen)
buildings of historic interest in order to achieve the broader redevelopment goals for the
area. The zoning that was ultimately approved for the area that includes the Subject
Properties, allows the highest density and building heights of all of The Quarters
Downtown districts.
What is the historical significance of the Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The
Artery) and the Graphic Arts Building?
The Mitchell and Reed Auction House is identified as a historic resource on the
Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton, but has never been designated. Built in
1908, it is the only building left on Jasper Avenue that is an example of the commercial
boomtown development that once lined the south side of Jasper Avenue east. The
building features several character-defining elements that contribute to its historic
significance, including the false wooden front faade, pressed metal siding, the cornice
at the top of the building, the placement and shape of three windows on the front
faade, and the general form, scale, and massing of the building.
The Graphic Arts Building is not currently on the Inventory of Historic Resources in
Edmonton. There is no information available on this building other than an approximate
construction date of 1938. It is, however, a rare example in Edmonton of Art Deco
design, which features symmetrical faades, smooth wall surfaces, geometric design
motifs, rectangular block forms, and vertical projections along rooflines.
What responsibility does the City have to preserve buildings on the heritage
inventory?
Administration maintains the Inventory and Register of Historic Resources in Edmonton
in an effort to manage, protect, and promote historic resources to enhance the quality of
Edmontons environment for the benefit of Edmontonians. The Inventory and Register of
Historic Resources contains resources that have received municipal designation,
provincial designation or both, as well as resources that have been identified as having
historic significance, but have not been designated. The Municipal Historic Resource
designation is guided by City Policy C450B A Policy to Encourage the Designation
and Rehabilitation of Historic Resources in Edmonton. This policy specifically
encourages the voluntary designation and conservation of historic resources through
the provision of incentives.
The purpose of Policy C450B is to encourage the designation and conservation of
historic resources in Edmonton by:
1. developing and maintaining the Inventory and Register of Historic Resources in
Edmonton
2. providing incentives to encourage the restoration of historic resources
3. promoting the benefits of heritage conservation
4. monitoring historic resources so that they are accounted for during the
development process

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Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The Artery) and the Graphic Arts Building Historical Significance (S. McKeen)
5. broader heritage initiatives to integrate the program with initiatives such as
museums and archives
Through Policy C450B and the Historic Resource Management Plan, Administration
works to encourage the retention, restoration and designation of all of its own historic
resources and advocates for its ad-hoc bodies, autonomous agencies and other public
bodies to do the same. In addition, Administration works with landowners to prevent
inappropriate alterations and/or the demolition of historic resources.
The City has the same responsibility as any owner of an identified heritage building in
Edmonton to retain, restore and designate that building as a Municipal Historic
Resource. However, the Mitchell and Reed Auction House and the Graphic Arts building
were acquired with the intent to demolish the buildings and use the land for LRT
laydown space, so the potential for restoring the buildings and the associated costs
were not considered during the purchase process.
Given that these properties were purchased to provide temporary lay down space
for the Valley Line LRT project, can Transportation Services provide information
on why this space is needed?
The Subject Properties are adjacent to lands under which the LRT tunnel will run.
Combining the Subject Properties with these neighboring lands ensures the City has
adequate laydown space in the constrained downtown corridor to carry out construction
of the Valley Line LRT. The Subject Properties are ideal due to their proximity to the
start of the LRT tunnel which will run from 102 Avenue to the River Valley under 95
Street. The Subject Properties will be used by the Valley Line LRT contractor for the
removal of tunnel excavation material, as a temporary concrete plant for the tunnel liner,
as an area for formwork preparation, as an area for material storage, and as an area for
site trailers. The proximity of this large laydown area to the tunnel starting point is
expected to result in lower bids for construction. It is also expected to reduce traffic
impacts during construction due to its location south of Jasper Avenue.
When no longer required for the Valley Line LRT project, the Subject Properties may be
consolidated with neighboring properties to create a larger development parcel and
achieve the long-term goals identified in The Quarters Downtown Area Redevelopment
Plan, The Quarters Downtown Urban Design Plan, and associated zoning, which
identifies this area as the Five Corners Quarter.
Next Steps:
Since this inquiry was passed, Administration has completed a preliminary historic
review of the Mitchell and Reed Auction House and the Graphic Arts
Building. Administration will document the building and will salvage, during the
demolition, parts of the building with historic merit if the opportunity exists.
During the preliminary historic review of the Graphic Arts Building, Administration
determined the building has historic merit. Due to the requirements of the LRT

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Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The Artery) and the Graphic Arts Building Historical Significance (S. McKeen)
construction the building would have to be relocated to be saved. The logistics of
finding a suitable site and making arrangements to move the building could impact the
Valley Line LRT project timelines and budget.
A review of internal processes with respect to heritage resources has been undertaken.
There are currently 36 city-owned properties (including EPCOR properties) on the
inventory and 16 municipally designated properties (Attachment 1). The detailed
inventory of City-owned historic resources (both designated and on the Inventory
because of historical significance), will be shared with all work areas to improve
communication.
Policy
The Way We Grow, Edmontons Municipal Development Plan:
5.2.1.5: Undertake Urban Design Plans to guide the redevelopment of prominent sites,
corridors, entrance ways, older commercial areas and character areas and integration
of historic sites.
5.4.1.3: Guide urban design in The Quarters Downtown through the work of The
Quarters Downtown Urban Design Plan.
The Way We Move, Edmontons Transportation Master Plan:
4.1 The City will integrate land use planning and transportation decisions to create an
accessible, efficient and compact urban form.
5.1 The City will pursue expansion of the LRT to all sectors of the city with a goal to
increase transit ridership and transit mode split, and spur the development of compact,
urban communities.
Policy C450B Policy to Encourage the Designation and Rehabilitation of Municipal
Historic Resources in Edmonton
Historic Resource Management Plan:
Policy 1 Register and Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton: The City will
develop and maintain a comprehensive document, the Register and Inventory of
Historic Resources in Edmonton that identifies all historic resources and areas in the
City that are of architectural, social and cultural value.
Policy 11 Stewardship of City Historic Resources: The City will encourage the
retention, restoration and designation of all of its own historic resources and advocate
for its ad-hoc bodies, autonomous agencies and other public bodies to do the same.
Policy 12 Demolition and Inappropriate Alterations: The City will place a high priority
on preventing the demolition of historic resources and any inappropriate alterations.

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Mitchell and Reed Auction House (The Artery) and the Graphic Arts Building Historical Significance (S. McKeen)
Legal Implications
It is anticipated that the availability of the Subject Properties as laydown during
construction of the Valley Line LRT will result in lower bids from proponents currently
bidding on the project.
Being able to later consolidate the Subject Properties with adjacent lands provides the
City with the opportunity to mitigate damages related to the expropriation of nearby
properties.
If the buildings located on the Subject Properties were to remain, the City, as owner,
has a responsibility to ensure these buildings are suitable for occupation. Failure to do
so could expose the City to legal liability.
Attachment
1. City-owned Properties on the Inventory and Register of Historic Resources in
Edmonton
Others Reviewing this Report

D. Wandzura, General Manager, Transportation Service

K. Rozmahel, General Manager, Corporate Services

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