Don’t let downtown lose architectural heritage
Committee of the Whole voted last Monday to negotiate with Parkview Homes to preserve “some features” of the Black Horse and Pig’s Ear buildings and overruled Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee’s recommendation that the buildings be designated as historical properties.
This gives me an uneasy sense of déjà view relating to my time in London, Ont. when I saw the same slippery-slope gamesmanship at play on two occasions.
The first, involved a condo development on the estate of Sir Adam Beck who founded Ontario Hydro. The developer first promised council to preserve Beck’s house and to build on only the surrounding estate. But then, the developer couldn’t preserve the original house because of purported structural problems, but said he would build a replica, but then he couldn’t build a replica because of space restrictions, but he could build a smaller facsimile - which is what happened.
On the second occasion, as part of the construction of the John Labatt Centre (now Budweiser Gardens), the developer wanted to demolish the entire block on the west side of Talbot St.
When objections were raised at council, the developer maintained that it wasn’t possible to preserve the whole block but he would preserve the facade of the buildings. But then, as demolition continued, the developer purported that it was not possible even to preserve the facade because of structural problems, so the entire block of historically significant buildings was demolished.
This sort of gamesmanship by developers has been going on in London for decades. The result is that London has a dysfunctional downtown which has been the focus of numerous unsuccessful attempted fixes over the years.
Of course, this is the case for many other cities where this same story has played out. We should not let this happen in Peterborough.
In the Peterborough version of the story, the developer hasn’t yet promised to save the building’s facade. He’s offered a commemorative display. Now, really. Developers are good at demolition, developing, and making money but notoriously disinclined to save architectural heritage. In the end, preserving our architectural heritage for generations to come is each councillor’s vital responsibility. So, councillors, please do your job. Support PACAC’s recommendation to designate these properties – and beware slippery-slope gamesmanship. Fraser Bleasdale Fairbairn St.