Edmonton-based real estate developer, Beljan Developments, has plans for commercial and residential development on the site of Edmonton’s first Catholic school built on the south side of the city.
Parts of the St. Anthony School building at 104th Street and 84th Avenue were built 118 years ago. The building most recently served as the St. Anthony District Archives and Meeting Centre until Edmonton Catholic Schools sold the property back in 2022.
Plans for commercial retail and residential development
Depending on the outcome of a rezoning application, Beljan Developments is looking to place commercial retail tenants in the former school building. According to Leah Kinsella, a development manager for Beljan Development, they’re also considering construction of a residential complex that could reach as tall as 30 metres.
"Just to the west and south of the [St. Anthony] building, we are planning to do a residential development that will be upwards of eight stories," Kinsella explains.
Search South Central Edmonton properties for sale
Historic St. Anthony building to be preserved
While the proposed zoning does not specifically guarantee the preservation of the original building, Kinsella said that they plan to “preserve the [St. Anthony] building in its entirety.” The company is also considering initiating the process to historically designate the original St. Anthony School.
Built in 1906, St. Anthony was the first Catholic school in what was then known as Strathcona. The building received several additions over the years before ultimately closing its doors to students due to low enrollment back in 1973. More recently it was used as a meeting centre, storage facility, and archives. The property was listed for sale in 2022 for $6.6 million. Edmonton Catholic Schools cited the consolidation of six administrative buildings and the growing costs of operating a century-old building as the reasons for the sale.
Edmonton-based developers known for landmark properties in prominent locations
Beljan Developments are no strangers to working with landmark properties in Edmonton. Previous projects include The Strathcona which revitalized the Strathcona Hotel building on the corner of 10302 82 Ave which was once the home of “The Strat,” an iconic dive bar and live music venue. The building was originally built in 1891 and is located on a prominent corner in the historic district of Old Strathcona.
Other projects featuring character or historic buildings include the Metals Building on 10190 104 Street in downtown Edmonton (currently home to DOSC), as well as Dominion Hotel on 10324 82 Ave (currently home to The Woodrack Cafe).
“Our bread and butter has historically been acquiring buildings that are either on the historic inventory or are already designated as historic buildings, says Kinsella.
Next steps include public hearing and development application
The City is currently analyzing the zoning application. It is evaluating it against city policies, technical considerations such as drainage and transportation, as well as public input. If the rezoning is approved, Beljan would need to apply for development and building permits to begin construction. The City conducted an online feedback engagement on September 8th. Edmontonians will have another opportunity to provide feedback when the rezoning application advances to a public hearing.
If all goes smoothly, the developers hope to begin work on the site at the end of 2025.
Edmonton Realtor® Wally Fakhreddine has nearly 20 years of experience helping homeowners buy/sell property in the Edmonton area.
Have questions about Edmonton real estate? Phone/text Wally at 780.238.7384.