Demolition of bars halted
City, developer working on plan to save parts of The Pig’s Ear, Black Horse Pub buildings in new development
A plan to demolish two historic bars downtown to make way for new development has been put aside - at least for now.
The Pig’s Ear (built in 1865) and The Black Horse (1882) got a reprieve, although no ultimate decision has been made on their fate.
Parkview Homes bought the Piggy in January, and have just bought the Black Horse.
Paul Dietrich, the owner of Parkview Homes, says he applied for demolition permits for both buildings a few weeks ago (he had permission to do so from the owner of the Black Horse, since he’d yet to buy that building).
Those demolition permits were granted. There’s no heritage designation on either building.
But the city’s architectural preservation committee wants to save both buildings from the wrecker’s ball.
The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee – PACAC – voted on March 2 to recommend to council that heritage designations be placed on the two buildings.
Under the Ontario Heritage Act, it’s up to city council to place heritage designations on buildings. When that happens, a building cannot be razed.
The designation also protects a building from alterations that would detract from architectural features.
Meanwhile, a new city staff report recommends that council hold off on making a designation.
City staff met with the developer on March 8, the report states, and arranged a deal: Parkview Homes agreed not to tear down the buildings just yet. Instead, they’ve promised to work with city staff toward a redevelopment that doesn’t involve demolition.
But in exchange, they want to avoid a heritage designation (which would allow them greater freedom in the way they can alter the buildings.)
In an email to The Examiner, Dietrich wrote that the idea is to invest in downtown Peterborough – and create homes and jobs.
“We see opportunities for redevelopment and intensification,” he wrote.
At a meeting on Monday, it will be up to councillors: They can go along with the idea of letting staff and Parkview Homes negotiate, or they can place heritage designations on the buildings.
Councillors will be sitting as committee of the whole when they vote, on Monday, meaning a final vote will be necessary at a forthcoming council meeting.
In his email, Dietrich states that he knows the history of the two bars and wants to preserve parts of the buildings – as well as some of the memories - in a new development that would enhance downtown.
The city staff report outlines some of that history.
The Black Horse was built in 1882 as an addition to the ornate building on the northeast corner of George St. and Brock St.
That ornate building was designed by architect John Belcher (also the designer of Market Hall). Much of the addition was designed to as a precise continuation of Belcher’s design.
Over the years it had many longterm tenants, including a shoemaker, a plumbing company and a restaurant called the Sugar Bowl Grill.
The Pig’s Ear has been a tavern in continuous operation for more than 150 years. It opened in 1865 as the St. Maurice Saloon, and has had about a dozen owners.
Pig’s Ear owners Lylie Ryder and John Punter are closing the bar for good on April 22. There’s been no word on the future of the Black Horse.