So, what happens when our elected officials disregard the reports prepared by administration? We end up with a completely dead and vacant city block in the core of the city. The final remnant of a city block bounded by Glengarry, Assumption, Aylmer and University located at 304 Glengarry came down late last week.
There is now a giant hole in the core of the Glengarry – Marentette area. The Glengarry – Marentette CIP ( full report available here) was approved by our esteemed council on October 6, 2003. Six years ago, yesterday, yet still no action has been taken in this area. [The Glengarry – Marentette CIP area, is actually the block just north of here, the CIP only covers 6 blocks. If the City had worked on only one block a year, it would be done by now…]
I guess that’s not entirely false, there have been lots of fires and demolitions in the area in the last 6 years, but nothing helpful. I doubt that wiping away the historic building stock is helpful.
As you can see by the layout of the block in 1937, the area was a densely filled block with a mix of single family, duplex housing a commercial building and an apartment building.
An aerial view of the block from 1949.
Even by 1981, the west half of the block was still relatively dense, with a nursing home occupying the east half of the block.
By 2006, only the apartment building, commercial store and nursing home were still standing. The big decline occurred during this 25 year period.
The nursing home fronting University Avenue…
… came down in May, 2006.
The Cohn apartments built in 1914, was initially a true mixed use building, with two stores and three apartments…
…was next, and came down shortly after the nursing home.
By 2007, 304 Glengarry a century old commercial/residential building was the last man standing.
This view from early 2006, shows all three buildings visible. Today, nothing remains.
So, what is the point of reports that recommend denial of permits? [Full report here]
The report noted the following:
RECOMMENDATION:
That the application to demolish the building at 304 Glengarry Avenue BE DENIED.
…
Demolition Control By-law 11806 states that a demolition permit can be issued automatically where the applicant has a proposed development for the site and agrees to substantially complete the development within a time frame as determined by Council, within a maximum time of two years. The applicant has indicated that he has no redevelopment plans for the site at the present time. Chifor Investments Limited owns the entire block between Glengarry Avenue to Aylmer Avenue and University Avenue East to Assumption Street. Currently, there is a Correction Order for an illegal parking lot at the east end of this block against Chifor Investments Limited. The RD3.1 zoning district does not permit a public parking area and the use of this lot as a public parking area would not be permitted.
…
CONCLUSION:
By-law 11806 was passed to prevent premature demolition of buildings in the Neighbourhood Surrounding the Downtown Area. Allowing demolition of this combined use residential/non-residential building would not be in keeping with the intent of the Demolition Control Bylaw as the building is structurally sound and there is no redevelopment plans for the building.
Despite all this, our council voted yes to let the demolition proceed.
So remember when you hear about how the downtown area is losing population, and there is no residential base to support retail in the core, moves like this to allow residential units to be removed should be looked upon with a critical eye.
There is now an entire vacant city block. The demolition control bylaw was created to prevent “blockbusting” or so I heard one of our councilors claim recently at council. However, I don’t think he really knows what blockbusting means.
The video above was from a different “request to demolish”. Despite councilor Lewenza’s best efforts the permission was not granted this time. Council actually heeded administration’s recommendation.
Why do we need buildings downtown? We all know that parking lots are king.
At least council has made the effort to have these “new” lots paved and perhaps even landscaped…but time will tell if that is even enforced.
By the way, don’t worry about all of those CIPs. They will be trotted out right before the election so that some councillors can say look what we are going to do next! Which is code speak for “re-elect me so that I can continue to really do nothing at all.”
What amazes me is that these private pay parking lots are actually filled and rented during the day and that it actually makes business sense to tear down a building with tenants like that Glengarry Confectionary and turn it into a pay parking lot. Where do these car owners go? The casino’s losing money because of a so called huge decline in customer base. Doesn’t the casino garage offer enough room? Shouldn’t there be less cars in the casino garage? I don’t see a lot of people walking around downtown during the day. The new private pay parking lot at the former Club 801 site is also completely filled during the day. Where do they go?? They’re not walking around downtown. There’s retail vacancies everywhere in downtown, yet the private lots fill up. Could it be that just about everyone living in the taxpayer funded geared to income apartment buildings own multiple cars, yet pay only $150 a month for an apartment? Did the city not factor in a reasonable number of parking lots for these apartment buildings? I don’t know who else owns all those cars. How is it that people living in taxpayer funded geared to income apartments own cars if they’re so poor to qualify for residency, if that’s the case? Something’s wrong with this picture. Who’s ultimately to blame for creating this market demand for private pay parking lots? Perhaps the people who qualify for these taxpayer subsidized $150/mth apartments need to properly researched by the city that they are low income.
For Shawn,
Next time you are going north on Coxwell Ave., check out the apartment building covered with stucco, yes, a partial lovely lime green, and a little beige added for a ?? touch.
It’s 131 Coxwell, east side, north of Dundas.
Huh!
Remember this Andrew?
“Malicki said finally city council — after decades of simply showing no interest in heritage at all — is paying attention to the value of saving and restoring buildings of historical interest.”
Quoted from the Windsor Star. Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
Pat made that statement the same day that the Seagrave building came down. Obviously nothing has changed; even given our new Heritage Planner who seems to have no more teeth than the previous one. No offence to Pat but hopefully she will now be able to recognize lip service when she hears it. Makes one wonder if there is such a thing as a “heritage revolt”.
how sad.
I guess I would be OK with it if new construction was planned and not a super-sized parking lot. It is sad that landowners decide that it is less of a hassle to run a car lot than it is to have tenants. Of course, given the state of landlord/tenant law, that is no surprise at all.
New construction is planned, JB. Speaking of course of the lot attendant’s booth to be built.
This morning, while I was waiting for bus I was strike with fact there was no a single parked car on this lot. Then suddenly I spot a sign:’Private property – Unauthorized vehicles will be towed’
I’m glad this lot was finally cleared, but it is sad that will become (probably) parking lot.
I wish they clean the rest of these “dead blocks” in this area.
Looks like the brilliant minds at city hall still think we’re living in the 20th century. Note to Mayor Eddie and the Seven Dwarfs on council: the future will be about walkable neighborhoods, localized retail and manufacturing and mass transit. The glory days of the North American auto industry are gone and all that’s left is slow and painful death. Just like Communism twenty years ago. Thank you for an excellent post Andrew. Any chance you or Chris Holt will be running for the mayor’s job soon?
Hey everybody take a look at the video before you hit the play button it looks like councilor brister is asleep in his chair what pisses me off is look at all the vacant land parking lots between pit and chatham the long toted western super anchor (ya right) we were suposed to have a urban village now i guess thats been “defered” (councils favourite word )now Eddie the moron wants to build a a canal thru there does he lay awake at nite thinking up these stupid ideas???