HomeMy WebLinkAbout381"Article copied from the New Advertiser, Sunday, June 2, 1996.
But, fate of building hangs in the balance
BY MARIANNE TAKACS
STAFF REPORTER
PICKERING — A Pickering Council decision to quickly remove a historic farmhouse from a park
at the request of area residents will likely save taxpayers money but may result in the loss of the
building.
Town Council voted last week to have Campbell/McPherson house taken out of Lynn Heights
Park ""as expeditiously as possible"" at a maximum cost of $15,000.
There appear to be two possible fates awaiting the building. A group of Claremont-area
developers has promised to look into the possibility of moving it to a yet-to-be-determined site in
Claremont at a cost to the Town of about $15,000. It would be taken apart and reassembled at its
new location. If that proposal doesn't work out, the building will be demolished.
""The bottom line here is that the local residents do not want it in the park,"" Mark Gilding of
Sherman Crescent told councillors.
Paul Galaski, also of Sherman Crescent, said area residents are worried allowing the house to
remain for some kind of community use such as an art gallery or studio will bring traffic and
""strangers"" into the community. He suggested the park the house sits in could end up being
strewn with used drug paraphernalia and condoms.
However, David Pickles of Heritage Pickering, a committee set up by the Town to advise
it on matters of local architectural conservation, maintained councillors acted too hastily in
embracing the Claremont proposal as the only option for preserving the building.
""I think it was premature to make the decision until arrangements were actually in place,""
he said in an interview. ""If that option doesn't come to fruition then the standing order is it's
going to be demolished.""
Last December, Council deferred plans to designate the house as a historic site and have it
restored for community or private use. Heritage Pickering had commissioned an investigation
of the property which concluded the 130-to-l60-year-old one-and-a-half-storey fieldstone house
had historical significance and was worthy of preservation. But area residents said they didn't
want the house turned into any private or community facility because it would create traffic and
noise, take away a portion of the park, block their view of the park and create a security hazard.
A final decision on the matter was put off until this September at the latest to give Town staff
time to consult the community and various interested parties on a variety of options for the
building, ranging in cost from $15,000 to $290,000. However, at the request of some area
residents, Ward 2 Regional Councillor Doug Dickerson brought the issue back before
Council last week for an earlier resolution.
Councillors Enrico Pistritto of Ward 3 and Dave Ryan of Ward 1 opposed the motion passed
by their colleagues.
'When we ignore our history we jeopardize our future and that's what we're doing here one
more time,"" said Coun. Ryan.
The dissenting councillors and Mr. Pickles all maintained the process of consulting the
community and exploring all the options for Campbell/McPherson House should have been
pursued as originally planned.
""We thought there was a commitment from Council and from the Town that they would act in
good faith and they would proceed with the consultation and the options, and they didn't,""
said Mr. Pickles.
Mr. Pickles added Heritage Pickering will probably try to take the issue up with Council again
if the Claremont alternative falls through.
"