LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. -- It's big, green and in some people's eyes, ugly, but this southern Alberta city's water tower -- a landmark for 45 years -- is avoiding demolition by becoming a restaurant. Developer Doug Bergen, 38, saw a notice in January 2000 advising the structure, built in 1958, was to be demolished. He went after it as a development project.

Bergen contacted Ric's Grill, a B.C.-based steak and seafood chain. It wasn't a hard decision to get involved, said managing partner Monty Bell.

"We thought it would be a nice jewel in our crown as a company," said Bell.

The tower will consist of two levels for dining and one level for a lounge. An elevator will be added to carry customers, but a stairwell still had to be built around the base.

Renovators started out with "just a big empty tank," said Bergen of the $2-million-plus project.

"We do everything by crane. Our biggest structural hurdle was cutting the windows."

The tower is scheduled to open in May or June.

Bergen has already been approached by another municipality about renovating its water tower.