By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
It was once a delightful little Café where the food was nice and the surroundings were what you would expect in a small town. Burlington however was a city and development was going to change things.
The site was acquired by a developer who managed to get approval for a 29 storey tower providing the heritage building was made part of the development.
The best heritage advocates were able to keep was the front of the building that was going to be tucked into the tower at the ground level – right next to the garage entrance and exit on Pearle Street. Garbage trucks will drive in and have to back out onto the street. Better than nothing? Probably.
The front half of the building sits on blocks. It will eventually be rolled back into the structure now under construction and turned into two housing units that will have their own entrances at street level. If done properly it could be integrated into the tower. Has enough heritage been saved?
I’m embarrassed to admit that I was a member of the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee that passed a motion recommending Council adopt City Staff’s report approving the developer’s proposal to only keep the facade of this building and incorporate it into the new high rise. I did not support the motion. The Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee has always been reactive not proactive..
A deal could have been done whereby the developer buys a lot and moves the heritage building at their cost. The upside being the City preserves it’s heritage, the developer is provided with some quid pro quo to its application and the developer has an asset it can keep or sell, likely at a profit. I was ignored by the chair at that time of the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee.
This solution could be used to preserve the heritage building at Prospect (or maybe it’s Ghent) and Brant.where the developer wishes to tear it down.
The preservation of the facade is a good thing but far from a glorious win for heritage preservation and heritage lovers like me.
Obviously delegate to Council but also to the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee!
I live on Pearl Street across from the new construction sight that is to include the facade of the old Pearl Street Cafe.
The building is in terrible condition and I have heard construction workers jokingly say the “best thing that could happen to this structure is if the crane knocked it down ( accident of course”.
This is the city’s way of “preserving heritage”. The back of the building was destroyed. What is left is supposedly to be two townhouse units that will stick out like a sore thumb in a glass and concrete 29 storey condominium complex.
These 2 units are situated next to the garbage and delivery entrance to the building. Have to wonder what the cost will be to purchase one of these townhouses and if they have been sold did the owners realize their location?
The distance between the ADI Nautique Development on Lakeshore/Martha and the BeauSoleil on Lakeshore and Pearl is four (4) feet. Residents living in these two developments will be able to pass food etc. on their balconies to each other. Guess they will have to keep their blinds closed 24/7 for any privacy.
Great Job city of Burlington. I suppose those involved in preserving Heritage buildings will be patting themselves on the back.
Unfortunately it is a joke.