Demolition of heritage homes can proceed: council

KITCHENER — The proposed demolition of two houses next to Schneider Haus sparked a lengthy debate at Kitchener council about whether the move would open the door to further demolitions.

The Region of Waterloo, which owns the National Historic Site at 466 Queen St. S., also owns two houses next to the museum. It applied to the city for permission to demolish the houses, which are 89 and 93 years old. Schneider Haus, the second-oldest home in Kitchener, is 201 years old. All three homes are protected under the Victoria Park heritage district.

Demolishing the homes would increase the museum’s total land by about 25 per cent to 0.35 hectares, give the museum more prominent frontage on Queen Street, restore more of the feel and look of the original farm setting and give the museum more room for programming, especially for large groups.

But the city’s heritage staff recommended the demolition request be refused, saying the move would set a precedent of prioritizing one building over another, rather than protecting the collective value of all the buildings in a heritage district.

Six delegations spoke on both sides of the issue at Monday’s council meeting. Councillors wrestled with whether the demolition would be a unique situation, or the precedent that would invite other developers to seek demolition of other homes in the heritage district.

Councillors voted 7-4 to approve the demolition, but added a clarification that the demolition was approved strictly because the homes were beside Schneider Haus and their demolition was meant to help the museum improve its site. The move “should in no way be considered as a precedent for the demolition of other homes in heritage districts,” the motion said.

“It is not going to put ‘Open for Demolition’ signs in our heritage districts,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. The city has only three national historic sites, so allowing a demolition to enhance one of them isn’t setting any precedent, he said.

“I feel strongly that we are by no means sending a message to any developer out there that our heritage properties are more likely to be demolished after this approval,” said Coun. Sarah Marsh.

But at least four people, including three residents of the neighbourhood, spoke out

against the demolitions, saying they knew developers were interested in the area.

They also said the loss of the homes was too high a price to pay for the improvements to the museum. “The retention of the two houses will not affect the heritage of Schneider Haus, but their demolition will irreversibly impact the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District,” said Gail Pool.

Regional staff said the region had bought the two homes in 1989 and 1991 as part of a long-term plan to enhance the museum. Coun. Zyg Janecki questioned that, saying the region bought the properties as part of a plan, later abandoned, to build the Benton-Queen diversion, a major artery to link the west side with downtown.