You know, it’s shit like this, and land owners like Ashok Sood (who FYI, owns Champion Products Corp) who don’t give a rat’s ass about Windsor or our history, who make this City and undesirable place to live. Assholes and incompetence is the reason there is a giant hole in the historic heart of Walker Road in old Walkerville.
The historic Seagrave Building on Walker Road (which was featured here and here), was built around 1905, and in this building the first motorized fire trucks in Canada were built.
The city fucked up once again. This building was listed on the Heritage Inventory, and as such it should by law be afforded a 60 day waiting period before a demolition permit is issued. Guess what? It wasn’t. Some moron at City Hall issued the permit without batting an eye.
The same thing happened in November 2006 with the Walker Farm Manager’s house.
Following the Walker Farm House fiasco, I raised a stink and I received this reply:
Please note that the Ontario Heritage Act has been amended so that
properties that are considered for heritage designation must give Council
60 days notice of the intention to designate. After intention is given,
Council must make a decision whether to designate the building or allow
demolition.
Here is the relevant portion of the Ontario Heritage Act – See Section
27(3) – for the 60 day delay part.
Restriction on demolition, etc. If property included in the register under subsection (1.2) has not been
designated under section 29, the owner of the property shall not demolish
or remove a building or structure on the property or permit the demolition
or removal of the building or structure unless the owner gives the council
of the municipality at least 60 days notice in writing of the owner’s
intention to demolish or remove the building or structure or to permit the
demolition or removal of the building or structure. 2006, c. 11, Sched. B,
s. 11 (2).*We have unfortunately issued a demolition permit without following this
procedure. In the future, please ensure that if a building is considered
for heritage designation, that (the heritage planner) be notified and, under no
circumstances, issue the permit unless Council approves the demolition.
…*
Good to see that the city can’t even follow it’s own policies.
I have honestly had it up to here with the City and their piss poor job of doing anything.
The Mayor of Monmouth summed it up better than I ever could in his excellent post here.
No advance warning at all. It was obviously done on the hush. There is one exception to this. Rick Gruber who is the area Building Inspector rushed out today to halt the demolition because even though there was a permit to raise the building, there was no permit to close Walker Road. In fact, the sidewalk is the only thing which separates the building from Walker Road. Witnesses said that a man riding a bike almost got clocked by falling bricks. Four thirty rolled around. Quittin time for city employees and Jones fired up the beast and started tearing the old girl down. Right in the middle of rush hour. One reason…They rented the rig from Amicone for a tight time window and the clock was ticking. Within two hours the building was really history. Ashok Sood who owns that property along with most of the 8 and 900 blocks of Walker Road stood on the opposite side of Walker to witness his planned demolition. He is planning to attract a “Big Box” operation on the East Side of Walker.
– Mayor of Monmouth
You know what? Fuck you, and fuck your big box. Enjoy your vacant lot, and rest assured that I will fight any attempt by you to redevelop your holdings for big box use.
Special thanks for the photo above to Chris Edwards, who went back after me and caught the demise on camera.
His series of photos can be found here: http://walkerville.com/seagraves/
This is unacceptable, and fucking pathetic. Whoever issued this permit in contravention of the Ontario Heritage Act should lose their fucking job.
I’ll keep everyone posted if I learn anything.
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ac - That's a good idea, but I don't have any free time right now to get something like that set up.. :(
I sold Asuk some property on Walker road a decade ago. I owned the bldg that used to be Walker Finishing/Bomar. I tried to assemble the property around it but Asuk kept topping my offers. The most I could assemble was us both dividing up the adjacent Macdonald and White property that had the fire with the classic cars. This was next to the everfresh Juice property that became Champion. I eventually sold out to him
Asuk was after the same thing I was, 20 acres of developable site, that was 10 years ago when windsor's challenges were not nearly as clear. With Hindsight about our economy, I'm glad I didn't succeed as the land has still not been developed.
One of the problems is people like him (or even Concord) construction who buy bldgs with no money down and no plan to invest. They become squatters looking for investors in their dreams. Concord was lucky the province pulled through or grace would be a disgrace forever. If Mady would have got it for less, it would have probably been developed by now without provincial subsidies.
I think first off, you can't sell gov't owned property unless a plan for development with sources of financing as part of the bid package. In Asuk's case, so far it sounds like the city really messed up on this one. Owners will always seek to maximize their Return on investment, you don't blame someone for doing what is in their nature. Thats why we have regulation in the first place
im in for the vigil tonight! who else is in? spread the word and bring your friends. i'll be at the scene of the crime at 8:30pm tonight, candles & signs & all.
SHAME ON MR. SOOD AND DOUBLE SHAME ON THE CITY!
I want some fracking heads on pikes in front of city hall!
I just got off the phone with Halberstadt and he is going to try and show up around 9:00ish. Scaledown's PR expert is issuing a press release notifying the media that we will be holding the vigil at 9:00 tonight at the scene of the crime. I will also be calling the big 4 media outlets notifying them of the vigil.
WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE OUT TONIGHT TO SHOW THIS COUNCIL THAT THE RESIDENTS CARE ABOUT PRESERVING OUR BUILT HERITAGE!!!! I hear they're not taking this seriously at all!!!!
Call your friends and family. I'm bringing my kids, so it will be child-friendly if you want to bring some in lieu of getting a babysitter. Let's use this tragedy to shine some light on this cities problems.
Good luck - I wish I could be there, but I've got night school tonight. There is no way I can miss class today, as there is a test today.
i'm in! see you at 9pm
My wife and I will walk over for the vigil. Great idea! Make sure the media is there! Maybe Jim Crichton will say "but first- On Walker Road..."
Good luck tonight everyone that can make it, I hope it opens the eyes of some very blind people.
I usually get out of class about 9:00. I'll swing by after I get out. It will be as long as it takes me to get to Walker Rd. from St. Clair. If you're still there I'll join the party.