Five years ago this summer, when I first started up what was to evolve into International Metropolis, I spent a summer afternoon walking around the downtown core area with a friend and his daughter shooting photos.
It was on that July afternoon when I stumbled across 430 Karl. Despite a strange and brutal porch enclosure, the house showed signs of past glory and great potential, if it had the right owner…
There was no doubt that it had seen better days.
At the time it seemed that there were a few structural issues that could be resolved, and fresh coat of paint would make things much better…
Flash forward 5 years, to today, you find a state of abandonment and serious disrepair.
Time’s about up for this c. 1895 house, as the owner has applied for a demolition permit. The house is listed on the Heritage Property Inventory, so the Ontario Heritage Act requires a 60 day waiting period before a demolition period can be issued.
Sad to see another one go, but this one is really too far gone IMO. It was borderline 5 years ago, and time has taken its toll.
A case of demolition by neglect. However, if I lived next door to that mess, I’d be glad to see it go.
What does a house protected under the Heritage Act, and a 60 day waiting period mean? If a vendor can demolish a historical building after neglecting it, what’s the point of the act? Do owner’s listed under the act pay less tax or get some kind of government support or something?
This home’s first enemy would be its real estate value – even after restoration. To spend 30k would be a labour of love, not profit. If it was in a more desirable area, maybe its previous owners would have invested in it. Still, sad to lose a 102 year old home. It would surely be a standout in any neighbourhood if it was restored to its former grandeur.
Can someone explain this to me? Why isn’t the UW’s Grad House protected from demolition under the Heritage Act? That’s a building worth saving. The city hasn’t ordered it to be vacant, so it’s still in decent, habitable shape. Also, does anyone know why the $20 million proposed medical facility has to be located in the heart of UW’s campus? Why couldn’t UW set up the facility in the Prince of Wales HIgh School since they own it and it’s not that far away. Isn’t University of Toronto’s Medical School located in a really old building? They could even set it up in Grace hospital or some place in downtown. St. Clair College now has part of their campus in downtown. Heck, City Council could even give them the AGW for the medical facility and turn the Capitol into an Art Gallery, since we already have the Chrysler Theatre. Why does a Graduate Medical School need to located at the heart of UW’s campus? I don’t get it.
David, before the Ontairo Heritage Act was strengthened, the 60 day period only applied to designated properties. There was no way to stop an owner from demolishing historically significant buildings – See the Mady Corporation and Glengarda.
With the new act the government can intervene (municipal and/or provincial – see the Lister Block in Hamilton), and prevent demolition of dsignated properties.
Prior to the change, Ontario has one of the weakest laws protecting built heritage in North America. That has now been rectified.
Pretty much every city in Ontario has what is called a “Heritage Propert Inventory List”, it is a list of buildings that have been identified as historical and or culturally significant with in the community. Notable architect, architectural style, prominent resident, sight of a significant local event, etc… Windsor has a list called the WHPI – Windsor Heritage Property Inventory – See: http://www.citywindsor.ca/000246.asp for a copy of the list.
In the past these lists were just kept to internally identify local structures, however, added protection was given to these properties with last year’s City of Toronto Act.
Along with many other items that were Toronto specific, their Property Inventory was afforded special protection. They claimed becase Torornto is so large, and they have so many listed buildings that to attempt to designate every one would cost a fortune (site survey, registering the by-law, running the notices in the newspaper, ordering plaques, etc). By installing a 60 waiting period after the application for a demolition permit, it allows the heritage community to investigae the property, discuss it, attempt to designate it or not, and at least photograph it and be aware of the impending loss.
If it wasn’t for this act, houses like the one on Karl would be quickly demolished before we had any notice, and or chance to go shoot some final shots.
True protection under the act comes from designation, and from there, there are avenues for the owners to obtain funding (low interest loans/grants) to restore historic properites. From time to time, there are also Federal/Provincial Programs as well. Some communites like Amherstburg offer tax incentives as well to designate historic properites. Amherstburg offers a 40% reduction on property taxes.
Demoliton by neglect as seen in this case, is the exception rather than the rule, and as the house is not designated, is not eligible for financial assistance.
You can blame the abandoned houses on the Canadian Auto Workers and their whole mentality of “newer is better.” Why settle for a fixer-upper downtown when you can buy a big, brand new house with a two-car garage in Tecumseh? Besides, as every loyal trade unionist knows, the best way to keep the economy rolling is to keep throwing out old things and buying new ones. To all those dunderheads at the Big Three who are getting laid off: It couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of morons.
At th end of the day, the city failed to uphold its property standards and some point, i think. the city of windsor apparently has very, very low standards when it comes to anything to do with the public realm which includes this Karl street house, neighbourhood.
Looks like someone gave it some attention about 20 years ago–the blue and white paint isn’t all that old–also–someone saw some value in those window casements which have gone missing.
Most embarassing part for me was not even knowing where Karl Street was.
David, as for the grad house, the Windsor Heritage Comitte reviewed the building but chose not to proceed with a forced desgination. Forced Designations are really unheard of, and the only time it has happened in Windsor was to protect the Joyce house at Riverside and George. Designation is usually requested by the property owner, and not imposed upon them. Also in order to force a designation on the property, the Heritage Comitte would have to reccomend the action to Council who would have to approve it. It is very doubtful that a majority of councilors would approve it, as it would be construed a blocking construction of the medical school.
The Grad House is a great example of Tudor Architecture, but it’s not particularily a rare style here in town, also is has some additions and modifcations making it less than pristine. However is more than met the crieria for designation.
The problem with designation is this: The bylaw is placed on the entire parcel of land. That woud prevent the Univeristy from moving the building and building the medical school expansion. Even if the house was moved to a new location, the designation would remain on the previous parcel of land.
In this case we wanted the building to be preserved, but not impede to new construction. This whole issue surfaced so late in the design process, we were told that the site had to be cleared by the end of May to meet the schedule. In my opinion, if the Univeristy had wanted to save the building, plans could have been drawn up from the start that would have had construction surround the building on its existing footprint. It’s either a lack of vision or a complete disregard for the built heritage of the neighbourhood they have destroyed. I think it’s a bit of both.
You don’t have to look around to realize that the UofW places no value on thier heritage. They are too cheap to build a garage, so it was very doubtful they would take any interest in preserving the historic feel of the campus. The Prince of Wales is next to be threatened as they are talking about using that site to build the new engineering building.
The U is so short sighted it actually disgusts me at times.
JT – Karl along with Vera one block south are both only a block long, so don’t feel bad for not knowing where they are. 🙂
In the mind of the UofW new = good. This is why, in my opinion, buildings like Memorial Hall and Dillon Hall are not maintained. Instead of putting the $ needed to maintain buildings and bring them into the 21st century (ie. Computer consoles and better seating) they choose to let time do it’s thing and eventually they will have a reason to demolish them for new buildings. Prince of Wales is a prime example of this mentality. Instead of maintaining and improving on it, they let it get beyond a reasonable repair cost so that they can justify the wrecking ball to build a new (and likely uninspiring) engineering building.
Geez George you sound like someone who failed the entry test to work at the Big 3.
I sense some jealousy.
Google Mapped where this was and drove by it on the way to my destination. Only the front remains and there was about 3 or 4 dudes in back picking up wood from the alley where the front end loader had smashed it.
Fausto makes a good point. Property standards and planning in this city are practically non existant. They don’t even seem to care that with a little enforcement there is money for the coffers as well. Sadly, our Heritage planning is without teeth. It’s always been that way. The pecking order at City Hall makes sure of it.
Navi, thanks for the heads up. I just shot these yesterday, so it seems I had good timing for once.
I’ll swing by and get some “after” shots tomorrow.
ANDREW HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR A ONTARIO HERITAGE ? DOES IT COST MONEY?
CAN ANY HOME OVER 100 YRS GET ONE? JUST WONDERING CAUSE I AM INTRESTED IN GETTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR MY HOUSE..
I AM THE 2ND HOME OWNER OF MY HOME AND MOST OF IT IS NOT BEEN TOUCHED AND WHEN I RENOVATE MY HOUSE NEXT YEAR ON THE OUTSIDE I AM RESTORING IT TO THE SAME LOOK…SO I DON’T CHANGE IT…..
It’s all gone!