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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This happened the same day that Marty Gervais' column (on the Low/Martin house in Walkerville) suggested that Windsor is doing a better job preserving its heritage,
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/columnists/story.html?id=518affd9-b67f-49ae-859b-cba358553d18
I have walked by this building many times, envisioning artist live/work space creating vibrant public spaces, enlivening the Walkerville area. I can't believe this is being torn down and the words "Big Box" being attached to it.
Andrew, we will be standing right next to you occupying the land in opposition to any more McDevelopment in the core. I can't believe this has happened right in my backyard. This city is really trying its hardest to get residents to not give a damn any more, aren't they?
And Ian - we're not saving ANY buildings in this city! The best and only thing that the core areas of Windsor has going for it is it's heritage. It's the only thing that sets it apart from the McSuburbs and Everyplace, USA. If we don't start fighting back against community abuses such as these, we may as well leave. But that's what most people want, isn't it?
Ian, the building wasn't the cause of the problems. The building was a *victim* of the problems. The underlying issues that led to the vandalism and arsons will remain long after this particular target is gone. And whether or not this event will make our community better or not can be argued, but the fact that due process was not followed can not be. The 60 day wait period was usurped once again and ironically a mere block or so away from the last incident. Makes me wonder what is going on??
The big box is not slated for this particular site. Too small. Look east across Walker Road as far a St. Luke and you will clearly see that Mr. Sood has carefully prepared the site for something big. If you take a walk around the perimeter you will realize just how big this site is. Whatever might go on this property, it is up to everyone who comments here to see to it that it harmonizes with communities east and west of it.
Chris, Andrew and anyone else listening:
You can count on me standing beside you in any battle against this. What has hapened is absolutely disgusting. While the permit was issued, is there anything legally that can be done to either the city (permitting the demolition and disregarding the heritage act), the demolition company (disoberyingthe building inspector) or especially the building owner? He did shut down a major roadway without permission, he did endanger the public by not properly securing the site (does anyone know who the cyclist was as this could help in the fight?), he did go against the orders of the building inspector, etc. Even though i am an ardent supporter of local businesses, you can rest assured this is one business owner, and sadly the businesses in properties he owns, who will no longer be receiving my business.
I say let's organize a protest!!!
The destruction of the Seagraves Factory is a metaphor for our city- we are very good at tearing things down, (note how quickly this site was destroyed) but find it very difficult to build anything of worth (think the Chrysler Building, the new arena etc...). A city that does not cherish its heritage eventually ends up corrupt and vacuous.
Like most posters here, I too went by this place just a few days ago. I recently came across "International Metropolis" and since I've always had a keen interest in Windsor's history, I went out of my way to take a few shots of this old building last weekend. I even talked a friend of mine to come along. I don't look forward to telling him that the old fire truck plant I showed him got torn down. Very sad, I too dreamed of seeing this proud old girl being reused for something useful.
Since the excavator is in the neighborhood local residents might want to keep their eyes on that Low/Martin house. It's Windsor, everything must go.
Chirs - With the current crop of shitheels in charge, I think we're all ready there...
i am speechless. completely in shock. i'm with ac and anyone else against a "big box". shameful. just shameful.
this is in response to ian deck's comment...i'm all for the creation of jobs. where my problem lies is in the lack of creative use for buildings that already exist. why couldn't mr. sood reuse the building in it's current form? funny...we will travel thousands of miles to visit city with historic centres and love the old world charm of it all but in our own city we refuse to reuse buildings that are more than a couple decades old.
(i guess i wasn't so speechless after all)
Wow that sucks :( Not being from windor i really don't know all that goes on there but i feel your pain. I hope the city fines the hell out of him for the damage those steel tracks probably caused to the street and sidewalk since it seems the can't get him for anything else.