It’s unfortunate the province is planning to relocate five James Bay heritage houses from their original locations, but at least they will be preserved, says the president of the Hallmark Society.
Ken Johnson is unhappy with the condition of some of the properties, saying the province has allowed them to deteriorate.
The houses, all more than 100 years old, are currently on a piece of government-owned property behind the legislature in the 500-block of Superior and Michigan streets that has been put up for sale. A second smaller parcel facing Kingston Street is part of the package totalling 6.2 acres.
To free up space on the larger site, the five houses will be relocated to the Kingston site, said Jamie Edwardson, Ministry of Finance spokesman.
Depending on zoning and the community plan, the houses could be used for offices or housing. It will be the developer’s responsibility to fix them up, creating a new “heritage row,” Edwardson said.
Repair work completed on some of the houses in recent years includes new roofs and stairs, interior upgrades, refurbished windows and replacing a fire escape, he said.
Even so, faded and peeling paint is evident on some of the houses. Johnson is unhappy that the heritage houses will be moved. “It certainly changes the context of that little enclave of houses that was there.”
They have been “sadly neglected,” Johnson said. “Due to a lack of maintenance they are in a state of disrepair.”
San Diego relocated some old Victorian houses a number of years ago to a new area where they are now used as shops and homes, Johnson said.
“It recreates a Victorian-type street,” he said. “It’s kind of false ... kind of making a Disneyland if you will. But better than the demolition alternate.”
Properties for sale in that area do not include the Queen’s Printer and two other heritage houses next to it facing Government Street.
Johnson is concerned about the house at the corner of Superior and Government streets, saying it needs to be painted before the wood deteriorates.
One casualty of the government’s plan to relocate the heritage houses is the Royal Canadian Legion‘s public service branch, located at 521 Superior St.
The legion has been in the building for 50 years, and in 2010 successfully fought back an attempt by the provincial government to begin charging rent at the site. Members maintain the cenotaph war memorial on the grounds of the legislature and conduct annual Remembrance Day ceremonies in the rotunda for MLAs and the public.
Branch president Richard Steele said he’s already negotiating to find a new location, and the move won’t disrupt the
50-person membership. “We are a very strong little legion,” he said.
Edwardson said the Legion is being offered 514 Government St., at one time home to Crown Publications, next to Queen’s Printer.
