Walkerville church to be replaced with homes
Historic St. George’s Church is about to meet the wrecking ball to make way for three heritageinspired homes with price tags of up to $800,000.
Walkerville businessman Vito Maggio has purchased the former Anglican church at 1949 Devonshire Ct. and will replace it with three upscale homes that “co-ordinate with the whole neighbourhood.”
When Maggio’s plan is complete, there will be three new homes in the Walkerville neighbourhood where a boarded-up, derelict building now stands.
Maggio, who owns two neighbourhood businesses — Vito’s Pizzeria and O’Maggio’s Kildare House — said the two-storey residences will be clad with reclaimed brick and stone on the exterior and have double-car garages at the back of the properties, “so the home will be new but it will look old on the outside.”
He purchased the former St. George’s for $250,000 and is eager to get started replacing it. Demolition is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks. Services will be installed and the lots will be levelled, ready for construction.
Maggio said he’s already spoken to prospective buyers and has a list of others who want to talk to him.
“There’s so much of a demand right now in homes but to have an opportunity to move into an old neighbourhood and have a new home … it’s a win-win situation.”
His construction company, Vanderbilt Homes Ltd., will build the houses expected to be in the 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot range with price tags between $600,000 and $800,000.
Neighbourhood resident Elaine Weeks said she was disappointed when she first learned of Maggio’s plans but still plans to fight.
“I don’t give up easily,” Weeks said.
“I’ve talked to him a couple of times, he didn’t tell me for sure he’s going to do that.”
Even when told details of Maggio’s plans, Weeks held out hope for saving the church.
“That’s interesting,” Weeks said.
“He definitely knows how I feel about it. I don’t believe it, personally. I’m going to talk to him again, he knows I’m going to talk to him.
“I feel like there’s still a possibility for that church. He owns a construction company, so I understand where he’s coming from, but … he was listening to me and I think that he’s got two minds.
“He’s a Walkerville man, he appreciates the heritage here.”
Maggio acknowledged he’s heard from neighbours and others who wish he would save the old buildings — built in 1921 and 1955 — but he said that’s not financially feasible.
“It’s too expensive to keep it, to try to fix it. What would I do with it?” he said. “Obviously, I feel bad that we have to knock it down, but that’s what it is. I can’t save it.”
He said he’s received the blessing of church officials with the Anglican Diocese of Huron to knock the buildings down and the city has already approved the demolition and rezoned the property.
“I assured them that the neighbourhood’s still going to look good,” said Maggio, who also owns several houses in the Walkerville area and lives there as well.
“It’s a personal thing for me to go in here and do something really, really nice for the neighbourhood.”
And he’s willing to share remnants of the buildings, offering bricks and other materials to neighbours who contact him.
He also plans to save the church’s bell, pipe organ and stained-glass windows.