Ghost of Beer Past: 10th St NW's Faded Brewery Billboard & Calgary's Derelict Property Problem

The Gist

A newly rediscovered "ghost sign" on a dilapidated building on 10th Street NW has Calgarians buzzing, offering a faded glimpse into our city’s brewing heritage. This isn't just any old paint; it's a visible echo of the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company, a powerhouse established way back in 1892 by none other than A.E. Cross, one of the original Calgary Stampede founders. Think "Calgary Export Lager," affectionately known as "Calgary Beer," complete with its iconic buffalo head and horseshoe logo – a true taste of turn-of-the-century Calgary, rooted right here in what was once known as 'Brewery Flats' in Inglewood. This recently noted billboard, likely dating back to the 1960s or 70s, is a classic example of a "ghost sign"—those hand-painted advertisements that once plastered building sides, now slowly emerging from beneath layers of time and new paint, a common sight from the 1890s through the mid-20th century.

Impact on Calgarians

While a cool nod to our past, the building itself raises a different kind of local discussion: the ongoing challenge of derelict properties. For residents in Ward 7 and beyond, a building in disrepair isn't just an eyesore; it's a tangible threat to their property values. Homeowners have the right to seek lower property taxes if a neighbouring property is negatively impacting their home's worth. Our City of Calgary, and specifically 311, is tracking over 380 such properties across the city as of last September. And it’s not cheap: the Coordinated Safety Response Team (CSRT) fields roughly 800 calls annually about property problems, with the cost of managing these derelict sites through city services being "substantial" – a bill ultimately picked up by you, the taxpayer.

The Reality Check

So, what's being done? The City isn't without tools. Our Community Standards Bylaw is pretty clear on "untidy properties" and "nuisance properties," slapping a $300 penalty on "structures not in good repair." And when it comes to signs, the Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 states that unless it’s explicitly exempt, any sign—or its alteration—needs a development permit. More importantly, a temporary sign becomes illegal if it "Appears unsightly, damaged, or in disrepair." It seems we have the regulations in place to address buildings like the one housing our ghost sign.

The Flip Side

However, it’s not always black and white, as Ward 11 Councillor Peter Demong has pointed out. Back in 2021, he highlighted the fuzzy definition of "derelict property" itself. "It can range anywhere from just having really bad landscaping, all the way to a hoarder who can't get into their house anymore because there is so much in there," he stated, noting that the only real baseline for intervention is "when neighbouring properties have their value lowered because of their neighbour." This legal ambiguity, despite clear bylaws for signs and upkeep, often makes remediation a drawn-out affair.

The Bottom Line

The faded "Calgary Beer" billboard on 10th Street NW is a fascinating historical artifact, a tangible link to a time when A.E. Cross shaped not just our beer, but our Stampede spirit. The original company was sold to Canadian Breweries in 1961, and production of the beloved Calgary Beer finally ceased in 1994, though Village Brewery did a fantastic job reviving the brand in 2021. But its current home, a dilapidated building, forces us to confront a bigger question for Calgarians: how do we balance preserving these accidental monuments of our past with maintaining the vibrancy and value of our current neighbourhoods? This ghost sign is a window into our history, but the building's condition is a stark reminder of our present-day civic responsibilities, and the very real cost of neglect on our city’s streets and our wallets.