Windermere Block – Then and Now

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• I believe the store on the right-hand side was an IDA Drugstore in the 1950s. I used to buy my comics there.

• The Walkerville Land and Building Company (founded 1890) probably can be credited for many such enterprises. Is that a 'for sale' sign (2) on the upper story? Does that mean that the stucco barons will be moving in on this property? I hope not as this building retains its original character and should remain for the future.

• Yes JBM it's a for sale sign and it's been there for a few years at least. Still is. I think it's perpetually for sale. Andrew's photo I'm guessing is 1-2 years old (can tell by the Discount Pet Food store). Units 3-4 have been occupied by Petwise for some time since Discount closed. Unit 5 (formerly part of Discount Pet Food) was briefly occupied by a "dollar" store, but that only lasted a few months and it is again vacant.

  That ugly former hair salon / shoe repair store to the west of the building is undergoing renovation to the facade, so maybe the stucco barons will strike there instead?

• I grew up down the street and there sure were a wide variety of businesses in that block in the 60's..from Adams drugstore on the corner, a millinery store,wedding photog,A. Ross Plumbing(the sole holdover from the 60's and I think it's closed now)etc.to the Bank of Commerce in a classic styled building(until they rebuilt in the 70's).
  Francos restaurant got their start directly across from this block(currently laundromat) until they moved to their current location in the old Loblaws store.

• They've been asking around $600K for that building and haven't gotten it. It's overpriced. With the graffitri problems, as seen on the right side, I'd say it's a very good guess that it'll be stucco'd or painted. I'd guess it'll probably happen this summer or next summer to make it more presentable to try to get that princely sum, which they won't get anyway. For some reason, a lot of sellers in this city seem to think that stucco makes a formerly brick building worth a lot more...

• Is the process of removing stucco an easy one?

• a friend of mine used to live up in the corner apartment. too bad they don't get rid of that horrible back lit signage and go back to the awnings like in the original photo. i'm sure that would do way more for the look then a stucco job. and probably cost less too.

• doubtful Rich - i don't know the process, but i'm sure it involves sledge hammers and chisiles. the simplest and cheapest way i know of is to wait a year for the water to get behind it and it just falls of on it's own. if one kid drops his bike against the wall it'll chip, and pave the way for a cheap solution. even if you got it off, all the brick is ruined, any stone detailing is wrecked.

  it's been said to death here, but WHY can't there be a bylaw that any building/res that is of brick construction, built before or on a certain year, or of some particular style; MUST go before some board to reveiw the building. if all the brick was completly messed up and it would cost an ungodlly amount of cash to fix...then, i hate to say it, stucco...could be permitted. i'm in absolutly no way whatsoever advocating or defending stucco, but i'd rather see this thing stucco'd then never sold and wiped off the map.

  there should be some kinda incentive from the city (ha!), some kind of cash help for folks willing to put the money into places like this to restore the brick, and the buildings glory. when i see 1880's buildings/wearhouses in New York still in use and in fantastic condition, all restored, new efficient replica windows and modernized, i refuse to beleive we can't do the same thing for buildings that are a fraction of the size. "we" just don't want to.