Demolition of Riverside School on MPC Agenda
Photo credit - Alex McCuaig
MEDICINE HAT – A request to demolish the 112-year-old Riverside School, a building valued for its significant architectural heritage and role as a community landmark, will be a key item before the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) at its meeting this Wednesday, November 12.
The meeting will see the MPC review an application from Prime Builders Ltd. to approve the demolition method for the school at 201 2nd Street NW. The outcome of this preliminary vote will determine if the request advances to City Council for a final decision, placing the future of one of the city's historic Edwardian Classicism-style buildings in the balance.
Former owner Covenant Health bought the property in 2019 and applied to have it rezoned from "Community Service" to "Direct Control" to facilitate a seniors' housing complex, a plan that was never realized. (Covenant Health also planned to demolish the school; they consulted with the Heritage Resources Working Group (HSWG) in order to preserve key elements of the building. )
A Deeply Rooted Heritage
The heritage value of Riverside School is extensively documented. It was designed by British architect Walter Hargreaves Bourne, who arrived in Medicine Hat in 1912 and also designed Earl Kitchener School. Constructed by Morton Fulton for $22,457, the school is an intact example of Edwardian Classicism, a style chosen for civic buildings to convey "a sense of security and permanency."
Key character-defining elements at risk include:
The building's symmetrical form, balanced design, and sparingly applied ornamentation.
Distinctive masonry, including common bond red pressed brick and a recessed flat-arch entry with a decorative cornice and brackets.
Original separate entryways marked by concrete signbands reading "GIRLS ENTRANCE" and "BOYS ENTRANCE."
A concrete cornerstone stating “This Stone laid December 11th 1916 by Mrs. Williamson.”
Interior elements like original wooden trim, flooring, and a wooden newel post and balustrade.
The building occupies an entire block in the Riverside neighbourhood.
Modern Concerns Echo Past Warnings
There are concerns about how to preserve the historic features, including the fate of a known time capsule. Furthermore, the proposal to build low-density housing on the 3-acre site is seen by critics as a missed opportunity to efficiently address the city's affordable housing shortage, especially as no formal development plans have been submitted.
These concerns reflect issues raised during the 2019 rezoning. A city report at the time noted the site's significant scale in a low-density area and stated that if redevelopment wasn't consistent, "further development controls would be required to ensure appropriate development compatibility." The report also acknowledged a strong "desire for public input" from residents.
In other business, the MPC will deliberate on Development Permit 2311501 (Item 4.1), a request for a Change of Use to a Light Industrial (I-L) District for a property intended to be used as a contractor's yard with associated outdoor storage.
The MPC meeting is open to the public and begins at 1:30 PM at City Hall. The commission's recommendation on the Riverside School demolition will be pivotal in determining whether the full council will ultimately decide the fate of this historic building.
