HEADLINE NEWS

Saturday, May 03rd, 2008

Chuck Kuepfer Staff Reporter
A house in disrepair on Elmira’s Park Avenue West, which has been conditionally sold, has neighbourhood residents concerned.

In an effort to maintain the character of the street, a petition has been signed by every resident on Park Avenue West, as well some of those on a neighbouring street.

Their concerns are that the house, which sits on a double lot, could be torn down and replaced by a duplex or some other type of residential unit that would compromise the heritage value of the neighbourhood.

In an address to council Tuesday, Sandra Bair, a representative of the Park Avenue West neighbourhood group, said she’d hate for their opposition to losing the Victorian home to be misconstrued as that of only self interest. “It concerns all of Elmira,” said Blair.

She explained that part of the appeal of Elmira’s small-town living is neighbourhoods like Park Avenue West, with its mature trees and older homes .

“When it went up for sale, we realized that action had to be taken,” said Bair, who is optimistic that council can help preserve the neighbourhood. “There must be some way we can all work together for a solution.”

While Bair said that she’d prefer that the home is preserved, if it is torn down, any new housing project should reflect the Victorian-look of the old street.

“Our real concern are some of the things that have happened in the past,” said Kenneth Gallipeau, who handed photos to councillors taken at various Elmira neighbourhoods where townhouses and apartment buildings have replaced historic homes.

Brad Martin of Thur Real Estate said that the buyer is aware of the petition. He indicated that he doesn’t know what the purchaser’s intention for the house, but noted that there are lots of areas in town where redevelopment in older neighbourhoods has happened.

Township staff have advised council that the concerns of Park Avenue West residents must be balanced with fairness to the developer. The property in question is not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, and the neighbourhood does not have the distinction of being a Heritage District.

“We need to balance conservation with fairness,” said Dan Kennaley, director of engineering and planning services.
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