EDMONTON - The historic Buena Vista building faces demolition within months after city councillors voted Monday to rezone the property for a highrise tower.

Vancouver’s Edgar Development Corp. plans to build a 25-storey apartment on the site of the 103-year-old landmark at 124th Street and 102nd Avenue, which now houses such tenants as the Glenora Bed and Breakfast.

The company will dismantle the north, south and west facades and incorporate them into the new building, vice-president Henry Edgar told a zoning hearing.

That includes taking apart the south wall brick by brick so it can be put up exactly the same, preserving the painted City Grocery advertising sign, he said.

This site “is a gateway to downtown … our property is a landmark on 124th Street,” Edgar said.

“(But) I heard people were excited about more residential units on 124th Street and excited about our project.”

Edgar Development isn’t seeking historic designation and will have to pay all the costs of removing and restoring the exterior.

The Buena Vista’s interior has major building code violations and is beyond repair, company consultants said.

There is little inside worth saving when construction starts this summer, they said.

The new 240-unit MacLaren rental apartment will have stores, a front courtyard, four levels of underground parking and a rooftop garden with dog-walking space.

There were no speakers opposing the project.

The 124th Street Business Association sent a letter objecting because it will be much taller than other buildings nearby.

Coun. Ben Henderson, the only councillor to vote against the plan, said he’s concerned the tower will change the feel of the shopping district.

“I’m not sure it’s just what’s in front of your face when you walk. It’s also the proportions of the width of the street.”

But city planner Cathy Raftis said the slim design and the setback behind the reconstructed facades will reduce the visual impact.

Mayor Don Iveson called the MacLaren a “stunning” development.

While many people had initial concerns about losing a historic structure, that faded as information about its condition became public, he said.

“This is the best way to preserve this building … I think people recognize we’re going to get a pretty exceptional building.”

gkent@edmontonjournal.com