Rossland city council has given its blessing to exterior alterations for a local heritage building.
The owner of the Flying Steamshovel submitted plans that call for an addition to the northeast side of the business and a new deck on the west side, plus new canopies, signage, cornice, and a different colour scheme.
The building at the corner of Washington Street and Second Avenue is on the city’s heritage register. It was originally the Bellevue Hotel, built in 1897, and is the sole survivor of the many hotels of Rossland’s boom era. (The Montreal Hotel and Velvet Block still stand but neither is used as a hotel.)
The building was also known as the CPR Hotel and the Orwell Hotel before it became the Flying Steamshovel pub in the 1990s, named after a famous bit of Rossland folklore.
According to a city staff report, council approved a previous development application for facade improvements on the building along with a new deck and signage in March 2024, but that permit expired.
The new application is similar, but did not previously include the addition, which will create more office space for now and is intended to later be converted into guest rooms.
The new deck will be accessed by an existing door that presently leads only to a steep drop.
The proposal was vetted by both the city’s design review committee and heritage commission. The former group raised a variety of concerns, including that they felt the addition’s design felt too modern. The design was revised as a result.
In its feedback, the heritage commission said it appreciates the efforts of the owners and design team to “revitalize and preserve one of Rossland’s most historically significant surviving hotels. The proposed work demonstrates a thoughtful approach to balancing heritage conservation with contemporary use and long-term building viability.”
The commission “strongly supported” the reconstruction of the building’s cornice and retaining the original upper-floor window pattern. However, they suggested a softer colour palette than the black and white scheme that is proposed.
“Overall, the commission supports the direction of the project and appreciates the effort to preserve the historic character and long-term use of this important Rossland landmark,” they said.
