In a devastating turn of events, Edmonton’s historic Hangar 11 was engulfed in flames on Monday evening, casting a shadow over a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project aiming to transform the former airfield site. The hangar, a remnant of the city’s World War II history, was slated to be the centerpiece of a mixed-use residential development, but the fire has left its future uncertain. Tim Antoniuk, the founder of the Hangar 11 project, witnessed the heartbreaking destruction firsthand. He had been working tirelessly to secure funding and make the project a reality, recently partnering with a development firm based in Austin, Texas, to turn the building into student housing with food, commercial, and art space. The development group had just acquired the building from the city for $1.5 million, and preparations were underway to break ground this summer. The redevelopment project was anticipated to cost at least $40 million and house approximately 250 people. The city had earmarked $5 million over ten years from its historic resources fund toward the hangar’s rehabilitation, but none had been disbursed. The fire has reignited discussions about the preservation of heritage buildings and the challenges of balancing development with historical conservation. Ryan Lee, curator of the Alberta Aviation Museum, lamented the loss of a crucial piece of Edmonton’s aviation history. Hangar 11 played a vital role in the Northwest Staging Route, used by the U.S. to send supplies to the Soviet Union during World War II. It was among a series of buildings that supported the massive supply effort, helping move thousands of American bombers, fighters, and transport planes through Edmonton to Alaska and ultimately to Russia. The hangar was one of the last remaining buildings of its kind in western Canada and considered one of Edmonton’s most significant historic structures. While historically significant, the building required extensive rehabilitation, leading to previous considerations of demolition to make way for the Blatchford redevelopment project. Tim Antoniuk remains hopeful that something can be constructed on the site to honor the history of the hangar, even if a full reconstruction is not feasible. The future of the site and the redevelopment plans remain uncertain as city officials, project partners, and the community grapple with the aftermath of the devastating fire.
Fire Destroys Historic Edmonton Hangar 11, Cloud Redevelopment Future
