Eamon's supporters launch last ditch effort to save gas station

Time is ticking down to save the Eamon's building, a 1950sera gas station that will be demolished without a purchaser.

The Roy Eamon Cultural and Heritage Society is aimingto raise $400,000before the mid-Septemberdeadline.

"Walking away at this point is wrong," saidBob Everett, who runs the society. "We'll raise the money, we'll restore the building and we'll turn it into a '50s diner that will benefit everybody."

Everett hopes Calgarians will help by paying$20 to have one of their own artist's renderings of the gas station.

The city is currently paying to store the building.Everett's group hopes Eamon'scould be returned toits original sitethe TuscanyPark and Ride, already home to the iconic "Eamon's Bunglow Camp" sign.

ScottJolliffe, chair of the Calgary Heritage Authority, says Everett has his work cut out for him

"It is unprecedented to raise those kinds of funds throughcrowdsourcingfor a development opportunity, but good for them for trying. Maybe it's possible."

Ward Sutherland, the councillor for the area, says it's costing the city $1,100a month to store the building.

"Unless there's a full commitment for the cash to do it, then we simply can't do it. It's just not the right thing to do and it's not a good use of taxpayers' money."