Brighton Block battle: Future of century-old building affected by litigation, forced sale

Four years ago, a local developer was almost ready to reopen a century-old building on Edmonton's Jasper Avenue. The Brighton Block had a storied history, panoramic views of the river valley and brand new Class A office space, but it would soon become mired in financial trouble and legal action.

The battle over the building, which has received more than $900,000 in city funds for historic preservation, reflects pandemic pains, the city's struggling commercial vacancy rates and the difficulties of rehabilitating rundown structures.

As the building at 9666 Jasper Ave. has sat mostly vacant in recent years, businessmen have been arguing in court about its value and future.

David Johnston, the city's principal heritage planner, says it's a shame the building has been empty. But, he added, with restoration work completed, the Brighton Block could be a "cornerstone" of the redeveloping Quarters district, just east of downtown. 

"The stage is set for a tenancy in the building," he said.

The Brighton Block, which used to be called the Brown Block, was designated as a municipal historic resource in 2001. According to an architectural and historical assessment prepared for the City of Edmonton in 1988, photographer Ernest Brown had it built in 1911-12 as his photography studio.

The historical assessment called the Edwardian structure "one of Edmonton's more distinguished pre-World War I brick commercial buildings," with Beaux-arts influence. 

Brown's studio had marble walls, Italian terrazzo floor and tropical palm trees. A 1913 Edmonton Journal article described the studio and reception salon as "the most complete and well-appointed, not to say beautiful ... in the west."

Brown, who had come to Canada in 1903 and became known as a community activist as well as a photographer, spent the most important part of his career in the building. His business collapsed after the First World War and he died in 1951.

According to the Alberta Register of Historic Places, various businesses have operated in the building over the years, including the Georgia Turkish Baths, known as the city's "oldest public steam bath." 

The Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta bought the Brighton Block in the early 2000s but sold it for $1.875 million to Ken Cantor, president of Primavera Developments. 

Cantor is an officer, director and shareholder of Brighton Block Inc.

Over the next three years, Cantor led the building's transformation, preserving its exterior and adding three storeys with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.   

CBC Edmonton toured the building in 2019. At the time, Cantor said he tried to save some of the original timber-framed concrete interior, but encountered dry rot and mould. He said he hoped the redeveloped building "would engender a renewed sense of pride in the city."