Demolition looms for last house in Calgary's East Village

The last house standing in downtown's East Village is facing demolition, and reaction from area residents is mixed.

Surrounded by cutting edge architectural feats like Studio Bell and the Calgary Central Library, and gleaming new condo buildings, sits little Sanders House.

It was built between 1900 and 1901, according to Josh Traptow with the Calgary Heritage Authority.

"We found a tax assessment and the house was built for a whole $600 back then. So it's the longest continuous house, residential house, in East Village," he said.

"It's fallen into disrepair over the last many years and unfortunately it will be the last house to go, similar to how Enoch Sales was the last house to go in Victoria Park. So, you know, these will be two neighbourhoods that will no longer have any kind of residential houses in them anymore."

An application to have the house demolished was recently submitted to the city.

Doug McArthur, who lives in the area, thinks it makes sense to take it down.

"I don't know how structurally sound it is, and as a reclamation project, I don't think it's esthetically that pleasing of a building to be restoring," he said.

But Mary Mitchell, who also lives nearby, says it will be sad to see the little cottage go.

"I think it's kind of a shame, you know, but is it going to be able to compete with all these condos and is anybody going to pay attention to it?"

The house is listed on the city's inventory of historic resources, but it's not protected through designation.