EDMONTON – Two adjoining buildings in Edmonton’s downtown core have been recognized as valuable historic sites.
The Boardwalk and the Revillon Building, located next to each other at 10310-102 Street, are both structures from the early days of the city’s economic development. Edmonton City Council has voted to declare both buildings as municipal historic resources.
“The Revillon Building and the Boardwalk are two of the most cherished and recognizable buildings in Edmonton. Although the two buildings have served many purposes over the decades, their architectural beauty remains largely unchanged. This heritage designation will help ensure both buildings are repaired and renovated in a respectful manner which honours their history,” said City of Edmonton principal heritage planner David Johnston in a press release.
Both the Revillon Building and the Boardwalk will receive a grant of $500,000 each to help with the cost of renovations and repairs, the release added.
The Boardwalk (previously known as the Ross Brothers Ltd. warehouse) was built in three stages in 1910, 1928 and 1940. The Ross Brothers Ltd. warehouse served as a wholesale trading centre to the region. It was built for industrial use and was eventually converted from industrial to commercial use. It was rebranded The Boardwalk in the 1970s.
The Revillon Building, completed in 1912, was built for one of the largest fur manufacturers in the world, the Revillon Frères Company. It served as a warehouse for the company, which turned raw Canadian fur into luxury goods sold in Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, New York and Tokyo.
The building was the scene of two major fires after it was constructed, one of which caused a complete review and reorganization of the Edmonton Fire Department in 1949 due to a lack of equipment and training to properly fight the fire, the release said.