Built in 1935, the Edmonton Historic Downtown building was known for its Spanish Renaissance style. With the red roof, the arches, the spiral staircases and the communal patio, El-Mirador was unlike anything in the city.
Article content
As crews tore down what was left of the El-Mirador apartments this week, a former resident watched, recalling his 20 years living in the building.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Keith McIntyre, an architect trainee, was driving to meet a client as he passed the Edmonton downtown building and stopped to take photos of the demolition progress.
He said he was looking at how the building was constructed and that he could still see his suite, which had not yet been demolished. Being there brought back memories of the community that he misses.
“There was a community in El-Mirador. It was truly a community of people and the building itself inspired people to interact and become friends, great friends, ”said McIntyre. “We take care of each other. We knew what people were doing and it was like living in a fish tank and if you agreed with that, it was great. “
Built in 1935, the historic building was known for its Spanish Renaissance style. With its red roof, arches, spiral staircases, and common courtyard, El-Mirador was unlike anything in Edmonton.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“That’s why I moved there,” McIntyre said. “The character of the building is unlike anything I have ever lived in or will live in again.”
The 60-year-old said that two of his best friends got married in the yard and residents would get together and decorate the large tree for Christmas.
“That tree is very, very special to a lot of people,” McIntyre said. “In fact, by being focused on the patio, I was joking that so much has happened within five or six feet of that tree. Conversations with friends, just get together and congregate under the tree. It was a natural gathering place. “
-
City Hall rezoning paves the way for three new downtown skyscrapers
-
El-Mirador singular building at risk
Residents of the building were evicted and had to move in late June, but McIntyre said the El Mirador community is still alive through a group chat on Facebook.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
McIntyre has since moved to the Oliver area and says many former El-Mirador tenants have done the same.
“The vast majority moved to Oliver because they saw it as a community,” he said.
McIntyre said that some of them had made plans to meet in different parts of Oliver, but COVID-19 has delayed those plans for now.
It won’t be long before two high-rise residential towers occupy the lot that was once the home of El-Mirador.
The Pangman Development Corporation project will see 35- and 45-story buildings overlooking downtown Edmonton. The buildings will house more than 1,000 residential units.
The project titled The Parks is scheduled for completion in fall 2022, according to the developer’s website.
Reference-edmontonjournal.com