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A landmark building in the Oliver neighbourhood will be given new life under a plan to turn the historic century-old property into a vibrant mercantile market. The two-storey brick structure at the corner of 121 Street and 102 Avenue, once known as the West End Telephone Exchange, was a symbol of the emerging popularity of telephone service before the First World War.
Constructed in 1913, the building was the location where operators would manage switch lines to connect telephone calls. Historically, it was one of four structures that comprised Edmonton's Telephone District. After using the facility for 100 years, Telus announced it was divesting itself of the property, leaving the future of the brick-faced building up in the air. But Beljan Development, seeing the intrinsic potential of the site, jumped at the opportunity for adaptive reuse.
A rezoning application asking to preserve the historical elements of the building and introduce commercial uses to the site was approved earlier this month. The Oliver Exchange will undergo extensive renovations, upgrading the interior with a suite of modern amenities. Beljan envisions the space as a collaborative nexus of mixed-use office, retail and workshop uses, housing small businesses and manufacturers within a market-like atmosphere.
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