This century old Riverside mansion is the next one due for a date with the wrecking ball. In the 1990 the property was purchased by the current owner for redevelopment. Until such a plan was finalized, the owner leased the property out for use as a Bed & Breakfast. The owner has finally decided that the time for redevelopment is now, and a demolition permit has been applied for. Under the Ontario Heritage act, there is a 60 day waiting period for demolition of heritage listed buildings. The 60 days on this one is up at the end of September.
The house was built c. 1890 by the original owner Robert Barr who according to the city directories was at one time the Editor of the Detroit Free Press. Although a bit of research was done, and the Free Press has no records of Mr. Barr. The house remained in the Barr family until 1942.
This house, and the Joyce House at the end of the of the block are the only remnants of what was once known as Millionaire’s Row. The house was originally scheduled for demolition in 1997.
Also of interest is the iron fence along the front of the property. It dates to about 1879, and was originally from the downtown Windsor Post Office that was demolished in the early 1930’s for the current Paul Martin Building.
Always good times in a city where a shitty ass highrise holds more interest than a 117 year old mansion.
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Who's the current owner? Chuck Mady? Any ideas on which architect this building closely resembles? Are these houses too big to move that they would rather demolish it?
David, it's not Mady, although if you drive down Riverside you'll see his sign up where he's going to tear down two houses for the next "project".
No idea who the architect on that would be.
No they're not too big to move, the owners just feel the land is too valuable to contiune in its current use.
I went to a wedding here on june 30th of this year! Have you been inside this house?
it is stunning!!! wow i am horribly in shock that it is gonna be torn down!
I really cannot believe Windsor would not want to keep it ! That is really to bad!!
I knew it was very old i know my old homes! I love living in one and wow i would hate to see my historic house being torn down in 17 yrs! what a shame!
What a terrible loss.
Why doesn't the city get Heritage preservation like they did for the Joyce house?
I believe that is what they are seeking to do, JT. Something was mentioned about it this a.m. on the CKLW news.
saw them cutting down that tree the other day. lots of dead trees around the property. they just had a huge wedding reception or some sort of reception there the other day too. i live very close to it. would suck if they start building another high rise on riverside.
If the city can get heritage designation for a bunch of boarded up homes on Indian street, then why not this one ? Sure would be a shame to see this house meet it's fate.
Rich,
That is easy. Because the councillors have an agenda in Sandwich Towne.
It sure would be a shame if they are allowed to tear it down but it woudn't suprise me either if they did.
I find it interesting that condos can be bulit along Riversdide Dr. E & West but nothing can be built downtown to bring more people there.
The houses on Indian road have not received designation for heritage status. They were initially part of an overall Heritage Study - but have since been excluded from further consideration.