Lewis Lofts

This is one of Calgary's four true industrial-conversion loft buildings. The first portion of today's Lewis Lofts was built in 1910 by the Ashdown Hardware Company for its new wholesale hardware business, supplying the then fast-growing prairie economy. Initially the building had only four storeys and half of today's footprint. In 1911 two floors were added atop the fourth floor with its arched windows and the floor plate was expanded to match the first half.

In 1972 the building was bought by Lewis Stationary Ltd., and in 1995 it sold again for extensive renovation converting it to residential use, along with addition of a parking garage on the east side, and was renamed Lewis Lofts. Today it is a provincially-registered historic building that offers owners wide-open spaces, 12-foot-high wood-beam ceilings, and some original brick feature walls. There are 59 suites plus 60 basement storage lockers and 60 assigned indoor parking stalls. Sizes range from 740 square feet to 1,172 square feet with most suites being about 1,000 square feet.

Most of the lofts have a tiny fire-escape balcony, as adding anything larger would have ruined the building's historic appearance. Instead there's a large common-use deck atop the single-storey parking building on the east side of the Lewis, so owners have outdoor space, a gazebo, a barbecue, and picnic tables. Four east-side suites also have 375-square-foot private patios atop that one-storey parking annex.

Exterior windows and doors at Lewis Lofts are common property for maintenance and future replacement.  The building's bylaws prohibit residents under age 18.  I have the Condo Plan on file.