City council opts to store Eamons for another six months
The saga of the Eamon’s service station continues.
Calgary city council decided to store the building for another six months. A move that will cost the city $6,600.
However, progress was made in Monday's decision. The city decided that instead of only entertaining options that include bringing Eamon's back to the site at the Tuscany LRT station — the city is lifting the restrictions and is open to letting it be moved to a new location.
"There's a couple interesting ones out there, including one to make it a visitors centre at the new Haskayne park, which I'm really intrigued by and I'd like to really follow up a little more," Naheed Nenshi said.
The iconic mid-century 1950s gas station was bought by the city in 2012 to make way for the Tuscany LRT station.
Owner's proposal
Bob Everett, the owner of the building, is one of the driving forces behind saving the Art Deco-style building.
He is preparing to begin fundraising in order to turn the old service station into a 50s-style diner and move it near the Tuscany station.
However, instead of entertaining Everett's proposal, council voted to store the building and look at other options.
Everett says after all the work his group is done, the motion was a slap in the face.
"It was a motion that was intended to take the wind out of our sails," he said.
Nenshi says given how much trouble they've had attracting a restaurant vendor to that location, council really needs to be comfortable that the model that would cover the operating costs of the building.
"It's a beautiful idea," Nenshi said of Everett's plan. "We have to flesh it out and see if it is viable."
Nenshi says at this point, he is prepared to look at any proposal that preserves the building.
Eamons is still up for sale, and the deadline for anyone interested in buying the building is Sept. 30th.
