City will need to do more to save historic buildings
Several months after voting not to block demolition of a two historic downtown buildings, the city has made a repeat performance less likely.
On Monday council endorsed heritage designations for all 50 buildings and structures identified by an architectural heritage committee as culturally or historically important.
Listing doesn’t mean a building can’t be torn down, but does require that the city get notice before the owner goes after a demolition permit.
That wasn’t the case when a developer applied to tear down two late 19th-century buildings on George Street and Brock Street that at the time were home to the Black Horse and Pig’s Ear taverns.
In the end, redevelopment plans fell through and both buildings are still standing. But the embarrassment of not knowing about the demolition applications before it was almost too late galvanized the city to produce this long-delayed list of properties.
These are buildings – as well as three sets of stone gates and a wall – that are not already protected in some form. The choices demonstrate that “century” status is not the only factor in designation. Many were constructed in the 1950s and ‘60s.
Owners were advised their properties were on the list but their consent is not required. A staff report indicates the only objections came from the Catholic church over three of its seven listed sites – five churches, a rectory and a large stone wall behind Sacred Heart Church.
Churches in general were another impetus for designating properties. St. Paul’s Presbyterian, one of the largest, oldest and most attractive downtown churches, is facing possible demolition because its shrinking congregation can’t afford to keep it up.
Many other churches face similar issues and are contemplating amalgamation and closures. It appears the 19 churches on this new list include every church of any size that was built pre-1970 and is not already designated.
As a catch-all against surprise demolitions that’s helpful. If the city is really interested in preservation, however, it should consider being more active. A fund that would help pay for structural repairs like a leaking roof before damage becomes serious might have saved St. Paul’s, which now faces a $2 million repair bill.
While the city can’t be expected to bail out every failing church, stepping in early to help preserve a particularly significant downtown building like St. Paul’s so it can be converted to some other use would be a good investment.
Another interesting inclusion on the list is the sprawling GE Canada site on Park Street. Most of the buildings that once provided 5,500 jobs are already vacant and the company will close all but a small engineering section at the end of this year.
The city has a strong interest in seeing some form of redevelopment there. It is encouraging that GE did not object to designation, if only as a sign of co-operation in the future.
While the city can’t be expected to bail out every failing church, stepping in early to help preserve a particularly significant building like St. Paul’s so it can be converted to some other use would be a good investment.