Would have been wrong not to approve Winter Ave. demolition: Dennis O'Keefe
If there was an alternative to approving the demolition permit for 25 Winter Ave. in St. John's, Mayor Dennis O'Keefe says council would have taken it.
O'Keefe said it was awful to watch the 130-year-old home get torn down earlier this week, but said city council was facing a very tough decision.
"That decision on that particular residence was looked at long and hard a number of times," O'Keefe said.
The most recent campaign to have the home designated as a heritage property came in the middle of a real estate transaction.
He said changing the status at that point would have cost taxpayers and the former owner, more money.
"The previous owner of the property would have been severely disadvantaged, and we would have ended up in court ... and we would possibly be taking about millions of dollars, and it just would have been wrong," O'Keefe said.
It's too late for 25 Winter Ave., but O'Keefe said council is moving forward by developing a new heritage list, and talks will begin on how to develop a better heritage strategy.
Lack of public consultation
Katherine Hann of the Newfoundland Historic Trust initiated an emergency appeal to stop the demolition but the appeal was denied.
Hann said her research on the property began in November, but she said the information she needed to appeal wasn't available until a week before the building came down.
She noted the property was listed for its historical value in multiple municipal, provincial and federal inventories — but never did receive official heritage designation.
Still, Hann admits there is only so much the city can do when properties are only evaluated at the request of the owners, but more public consultation would go a long way.
O'Keefe agrees.
"It's time we all realize that if we want to preserve our built heritage it is not solely a city responsibility," O'Keefe said.