The City of Calgary is offering $50,000 to help relocate a 113-year-old building in the Ogden neighbourhood, as it seeks a party willing to preserve the historic structure.

The Ogden Block is a “rare example of a Chinese-owned building located outside Calgary’s historic Chinatown,” the city said in a press release. The building first housed the Hong Lee Laundry and served as a boarding house for Chinese immigrants. In later years, the building supported multiple uses, including residential and rental space. It also operated as a hospital for injured and disabled veterans between 1916 and 1918, according to the Millican-Ogden Heritage Group.

The city will demolish the building to make way for a future light-rail train station if it does not identify a qualified applicant before November 15.

The building, located at 7044 Ogden Road S.E., is approximately 301 m² (3,240 sf) and features two storeys and a full-height basement. The city acquired the property in 2021.

“This is a unique chance for the community or an interested organization to step forward and give new life to a building that reflects Ogden’s diverse and layered past,” says Ward 9 Councillor Harrison Clark. He encouraged parties to preserve and reuse the building.

The building has been vacant and boarded up for several years. The building is not suitable for occupancy and will require significant investment to meet modern safety and building standards.

Interested parties seeking the Ogden Block donation can submit a proposal outlining their plans for the building. The application should also demonstrate the ability to move the building to a new location.