Row of downtown Calgary heritage buildings has new owner, meaning no more bubbles

Downtown Calgary is about to be less bubbly as a new owner takes possession of a row of long-neglected old buildings along Seventh Avenue S.W.

• Meet Calgary's Mr. Bubbles, who showers 7th Avenue with soapy suds
• Free Pantry Project offers 'love' and nourishment to low-income folks

The buildingsare currently occupied by a pawn shop, clothing store, convenience store, restaurantand the "bubble man," JonathanSunstrum, who blew suds over the street from his office windowfor years.

The businesses andSunstrumhave to be out by Friday.

Tim Blair isthe executive vice president ofTriovestCapital, the new owner of the properties. He said the company "is looking forward to transforming these properties into a hip, cool enclave."

Blair said the company is still trying to determine exactly what that will entail.

"We believe that there's potential to do something very interesting on this block that will increase the safety and add to the vitality of the area," he said.

Protected heritage resources

The row of heritage buildings between Centre Street and First Street S.W.have been at the centre of redevelopment plans for years, with its former owner receiving permission from council to build an automated parking garage behind the storefronts in order to fund their restoration.

That plan never came to fruition.

The buildings are all municipally protected historic Calgary resources, meaning they can't be altered or torn down with prior consent from the city.

According to the city, aside from Stephen Avenue,they are the only intact row of early 20thcentury buildings left in the core.

One of the buildings, from which Sunstrum would rain down bubbles, was home to the Calgary Stock Exchange in the early days of the first oil boom.

"The whole notion was just to try to make the city a little bit better. Why did I do it? Well because I live here," said Sunstrum of his bubbly antics.

It could be a while before the buildings can be safely occupied again, said Blair, asthe properties are in an "advanced state of disrepair."

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Calgary council looks to axe 2017 tax increase, finds million in savings
• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Community prepares for sale of CBC Calgary building, and what comes next