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Constructed
around 1905 by its namesake, Frank Fairey, Fairey Terrace was built
for speculative interests and represents one of Calgary's earliest
examples of row or terraced housing. At the time of its construction,
row housing was becoming increasingly popular in Calgary. The city
was booming and housing was scarce. Low maintenance was an added
attraction for the housing type as it eliminated the "servant
problem". Domestics, short in supply during this era, were
not required. Occupied in its early days by a cross section of Calgary
society, residents included skilled workers and professionals alike.
Popular in style just prior to WWI, the terraced floor plan is a
direct translation of British prototypes and very few examples remain
in Calgary. The building is a two-storey, parapet walled, red brick
terrace structure originally consisting of 12 apartments, each owning
a separate entry. Designed in the Jacobethan Revival Motif, Fairey
Terrace is flanked on either end with protruding half-turrets, large
bay windows on the second floor and carved brick pediments along
the roof-top. Additional features include sandstone foundation and
trims, corbelled brickwork and elegant two-storey bay windows. The
structure is mildly recessed from the sidewalk, a feature demonstrating
the functional nature of terraced housing. The building, now designated
an Alberta Provincial Historical Resource, was restored in 1999
by Giammarco & Co. and serves as office space for a variety
of small businesses.
Frank Fairey, a significant personality in the early development
of Victoria Park, took advantage of Macleod Trail's viability as
a commercial link with the newly established street car service
to Victoria Park to construct the Louise Block in 1910. Named after
his wife, the Louise Block, located at 1018 Macleod Trail, serves
as a strong point of reference to the community and the newly revitalized
Warehouse District. |
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