The Flatiron building — Lacombe’s most recognizable landmark — is up for sale.
The building, which was built in 1904 as the Merchants Bank of Canada, is currently on the market for $1,290,000.
Owner of the building Glen Calkins said he and his wife decided to sell the building after they sold their Tim Horton’s locations in Lacombe, Blackfalds and Red Deer and no longer have no need for the office space they have in the Flatiron building. Calkins said their intent is to move towards retirement.
According to the listing, the building has been fully restored and is in pristine condition. Included is retail space, an upstairs penthouse and a business space which is currently occupied by Lacombe Regional Tourism.
The listing also states that the exterior of the building has had over $100,000 out into its restoration.
Calkins said the building was seriously dilapidated in 2000 when they purchased the property. This is why they decided to restore the building. Since the building is historically registered by the province, they were able to get some funding from the government.
“We probably wouldn’t have been able to restore the building without that help,” he said.
Renovations — which due to the historical designation needed to be in the spirit of the original design — include exterior brick and sandstone work, new flooring, every window replaced, new plumbing, new heating and new wiring.
Calkins said it is not an easy property to sell considering it has been both a part of his family’s history and the community.
“My dad grew up in Lacombe and told the story of when he used to sit on the front steps of the building and sell the newspaper,” he said.
According to Lacombe Regional Tourism’s website, the building opening in 1904 became the Bank of Montreal in 1922. Since then, the building has been home to many businesses before it was privately bought and renovated.
Calkins said they are looking for someone to buy the building that cares about the community in the building the same way they have.
“The building is something you should have a lot of pride in,” he said.
He added it is a great building and sees the purchase of it as an investment into the community.
“I hope that if it does sell, it gets sold to good people,” he said.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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