The redevelopment of the historic Barron Building in downtown Calgary, originally Calgary’s first skyscraper built in 1951, has been paused due to unexpected rising costs, affecting the timeline and financial commitments involved. Acquired by the Strategic Group in 2009, the project aimed to transform the former office space into 118 residential rental units and 8,580 square feet of street-level retail space while preserving its notable historic features like the exterior facade and terrazzo flooring. The building was anticipated to open in 2024, but now faces delays as Strategic Group undertakes a “value engineering process” to manage escalating expenses. This pause in construction has led to non-payment issues, with contractors such as Con-Forte, a local concrete formwork company, reporting owed sums of $327,000 and experiencing payment delays since late last year. The financial strain has resulted in layoffs and operational challenges for Con-Forte and other contractors. In response, some contractors have placed builders’ liens against the property as a means to secure payment. Despite the halt, Strategic Group has assured that the project will resume within 40 to 60 days of their review and that all contractors will be compensated for the delays once construction recommences. The project is part of a broader initiative to convert downtown office spaces to residential units, supported by city incentives, although no funds have been disbursed yet as they are contingent on project completion and issuance of an occupancy permit.

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