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After one of Kensington's instruments of nightlife was saved and lovingly incorporated into a new development, the glowing kitsch of the Tigerstedt sign along the Centre Street corridor could benefit from the same nostalgic generosity. In their plans for a new six-storey residential building, Certus Developments and Stephen Ho Architecture have committed to the integration of the historic neon sign that whimsically marked the presence of Tigerstedt Photo Studios from 1932 onward.
To be clad in brick and glass, the building's interior calls for one- and two-bedroom residences. To ensure an animated street frontage, the developer is pursuing a green grocer, wine store, cafe, bank, and additional shops. These commercial options would be functionally similar to what existed before. In recent years, the block has been home to neighbourhood-friendly retailers including a convenience store and cafe. A liquor store had operated out of the adjacent wood-frame building, which is also part of the subject site. According to the project website, Certus is seeking the acquisition of a turn of the century two-storey commercial and residential building at 8th Avenue NE to expand the development's footprint.
The mid-20th century was the heyday of neon signage. The electric implements were ideal advertisements and conveyors of information for businesses along major downtown streetscapes not just in Calgary, but in Edmonton and other populous Alberta cities. Their use began to fall out of favour with the arrival of the 1970s and 1980s, and in cold and wet climates, maintenance of these colourful installations was generally a headache. Today, 17th Avenue SE is among the most bountiful custodians of neon signs, with Paradise Lanes and 4 Seas Restaurant marquees surviving threats of removal.
If the political will is there, these signs could be placed on the city's inventory of historic resources. Or, if their continued existence proves too disruptive to the image that developers try to fashion for their projects, Calgary could consider placing them in a neon sign museum, just as Edmonton has done.
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