Every year, with the last post of the year, I look back, and recap some of the demolition that has occured in the last year.
The victim of arson in late 2006, this was one of the first victims of 2007, and another vacant lot in the core. this house was on Janette.
Lasalle, our neighbours to the west, knocked down one of the few old building they had with the demolition of the former Bishop Cody School.
The former home of Home Watkins on Peter St. in Windsor’s west end went up in flames to the arsonist on February 1st.
The old CAA building at Gilles and Ouellette came down to make way for the new Rexall Pharmacy.
These two tidy homes on Elsmere made way for a parking lot. At least at last check the tree was saved.
These five houses on Crawford fell to make way for a future No Frills Grocery Store.
The Albert Kahn designed Ford Foudry was closed, and as of the end of December, demolition work had begun.
This oldie on Karl St. which was in poor condition and structurally unsound, fell in April.
The same weekend the house on Karl was demolished the Grad House on Sunset at the University of Windsor was demolished as well.
The 1957 Cleary Guest house was demolished to the delight of Gord Henderson, and replaced with the over-priced and un-inspired Peace Beacon.
Huron Lodge, designed by John Crouchman of J.P. Thomson Associtates in 1961 was demolished in November.
Longtime local landmarks, the smokestacks on the paint shop at Winsdor Assembly were removed during the summer shutdown.
The two houses above on Riverside Dr. just east of Pilette were demolished by the Chuck Mady Corporation after his plans to demolished the former convent at Riverside and George were thwarted by the desingation of the historic structure. In the end a house form the 1950’s and one from 1928 fell to make way for more highrises.
Much to the delight of neighbours the Cat House on Windermere Rd. came down in September, and is today a vacant lot.
The historic Ojibway Tin Mill, that was last in use as Windsor Cermaic Tile, was demolished in October.
Across the river in September one of Detroit’s most famous ruins, the Livingston house (a.k.a. Ol’ Slumpy) was finally put out of its misery. A little peice of local architectural history was lost with that demolition as it was the first structure designed by a young architect by the name of Albert Kahn.
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Another year gone, and another recap that’s far too long.
Hopefully the year in review for 2008 will be shorter.
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+ that arsoned farmhouse on Walker and Grand Marais, next to the tracks
Don't believe Eddie Francis when he says things will get better anytime soon. Any chances that the local economy would turn around in 2008 went up in smoke when Bhutto was assassinated and the price of oil hit a hundred dollars a barrel. All those vacant lots that were created to accommodate future growth will remain vacant lots for a long time and all that beautiful architecture that was destroyed to make way for that "growth" is gone forever with nothing to replace it.
For what it's worth, one of my friends used to live in one of those demolished houses on Crawford - the 2nd one from the top. I didn't realize it had been torn down. It was nothing special as a house but I did have some fun times there.
"+ that arsoned farmhouse on Walker and Grand Marais, next to the tracks"
Woops, I take that back. That was late '06. How time files. :)
Don't forget the old Walker Farmhouse near Tecumseh rd...Or was that in '06 as well? With the amount of demolition going on in this city it is hard to keep up. The really sad thing is these demolitions haven't really been because of growth nor because of a better economy. The majority have been demolished for parking lots and vacant lots.
Isn't grand to live in Windsor?
Has anyone else noticed how many more boarded up houses in residential areas there are and the ones that have been torched (why aren't these arsonists brought to trial?) sit boarded up for over a year? I remember when these houses were taken down immediately now they just languish away rotting whatever property values are left in the surrounding area. I wonder if these people will get tax reductions...then again it is only Windsor afterall.
A little story about the tax levels in this city. A turn of the century side-by-side in my neighbourhood is for sale. It is in excellent shape with all plumbing and wiring re-done, new roof...This house has about 3ft. of frontage and enough room in the rear courtyard for a car or a hottub (you choose). There are vacant lots across the street (still in the urban village area). When asked about the taxes by an older couple who loved the area and its anticipated growth (if the city ever gets off their collective asses and actually does something {quit chasing the UofW and send out the RFP's!}), the they were told that the taxes wouod be over $2300.00/yr! For no property and a semi detached house at that!
I looked into the issue for the couple but found at that due to mixed zoning the the millage rate on mixed zoning that the taxes were in fact correct. The same thing had happened to me when I purchased my house but only because there was a business in my hose prior to purchasing it. When is this city going to realize that the taxation rates in borderline communities kills those communities.
Windsor MUST give tax incentives and initiatives (better streetscapes in residential areas) if it EVER wants to change what is happening to our central part of the city. I am not just talking about the core, but the fleeing is now happening in "sound" neighbourhoods like Walkerville and Victoria Ave. The people leaving are not coming back and we have landlords swooping in to make even more multi-plex houses out of these beauties.
I urge everyone to call their councillors and the mayor's office to voice your displeasure over the proposed tax hike even if it only means an extra $50.00/yr. We must make a stand sometime and that time is NOW! Jan 9th is TAX CUT DAY, support it!
http://www.weact.ca
Me - The farmhouse was 06 too...
I guess I could have added the Walker/Wyandotte Underpass too...
Happy New Year Andrew. I've enjoyed visiting your blog this year and look forward to the next.
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/nominate/best-local-blog/#comment-775
You seriously cannot be lamenting that the Cleary Building washrooms are gone. The new waterfront is a quantum leap forward.
Amazing live footage of Ol' Slumpy doing the self-demolition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p7G4hpvUn4