As soon as today or tomorrow, the latest stage in the restoration of Rips Audio Video and Spas will be completed.
But the entire project is likely at least several months – if not a year – away from completion.
The goal of Rips Audio Video and Spas president and building owner Leon Durand is to restore the building back to the way it looked in 1922 when it was first built and known at that time as the Maybank Drug Store.
Durand is also chair of the Uptowne committee.
When complete, he estimates the entire project will cost $40,000 to $50,000. He's hopeful that under Alberta's Main Street program, he'll be able to get 30, maybe up to 50 per cent of that money back.
The latest stage of the project, undertaken by Ravenstone Masonry Conservation Inc. of Victoria, involves repointing, or recreating, the kind of mortar originally placed between the building's bricks.
Work on that portion of the project began last Thursday. Late last week, Ravenstone owner Shawn Thibault was hopeful they'd complete that stage today or tomorrow, depending on weather.
Durand says the next step is to rebuild the structure's cornice so it's historically accurate. It was removed during renovations in the 1950s or early 1960s.
He then hopes to persuade town officials to change bylaws regarding awnings so he can install an awning much like the one that was installed on the building in 1922.
Durand says his building was the first one constructed after a fire ripped through downtown Olds in 1922.
“We wanted to kind of restore the building and make the Uptowne look that much nicer by having these old buildings restored,” he said Friday.
“It's easy enough to knock a building down and build a new one. But if it's historically protected, you've actually got something that other towns don't have.”
Durand said his project is just part of an overall effort by businesses in the Uptowne core to preserve their older buildings and recreate some of the character those buildings – and the area – had near the turn of the last century.
“Less than 10 per cent of communities have still got enough historic content left to even have a historic area. We're lucky enough to be one of them. I felt as a business owner and building owner that I really have to do that,” he said.
“I have to do my part to make my building fit the historic content of the Uptowne; to make my building more secure and strong -- and in the long run, more re-saleable, because it will look nice when it's finished.
“It's just going to add to the enhancement of our already beautifying Uptowne area,” Durand added.
In his case, Durand conceded his building won't likely look precisely like it did in 1922 because the Rips Audio Video sign may have to go over windows in the second storey of the building.
The first stage of the project a couple of years ago was to rip off the fake white stonework that had been placed on that building and others in the Uptowne core during the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Workers also peeled off all the metal cladding that had been installed on the building.
At least in the early stages, the restoration was a bit of a gamble, Durand said.
“We couldn't see behind it, even with an inspection camera to see what sort of shape the brick was in or even what kind of brick was in behind this fake stone, because there was fake stone up to the top of the windows,” Durand said.
“From there up, it was all metal clad. We had no idea what was behind it for sure, other than historic pictures we got from the museum.
“So once we determined what it looked like initially, I said, ‘you know, I like that look.' I'd like to take it back to that 1922 style of building because it fits in so nicely with our Uptowne.”
He notes part of the restoration project involves ensuring the building's chimney is strong and intact.
“So it's not (just) to pretty it up. It's to make it solid again for future generations to see,” Durand said.
Durand is hopeful the entire project will be completed this summer or fall.
However, he admitted that may be optimistic.
“They're busy guys, right? They've only got short seasons. So he's not even knowing if he can even do it this year. I'm hoping. I've got my fingers crossed,” Durand said with a laugh.
"It's easy enough to knock a building down and build a new one. But if it's historically protected, you've actually got something that other towns don't have."LEON DURANDRIPS AUDIO VIDEO OWNER
