By Ian McCallum
Ian McCallum's City Scope
St. Thomas Times-Journal
Saturday March 19, 2005
We can’t help but wonder if the Municipal Heritage Committee and city
officials had attempted to work hand in hand with the owners of Alma College
instead of erecting one roadblock after another, the former school for girls
might once again become a viable and vibrant landmark in the community.
This corner is puzzled at the former committee chairman’s motive in citing
violations of the Ontario Heritage Act while threatening to slap a stop work
order on Alma Heritage Estates when Brian Squires and the Zubick family were
simply attempting to clean up and secure the property which has been prone to
vandalism for years.
However, we suspect the end of the line for Alma College was inevitable after
Squires threw up his hands in frustration at the prospect of dealing with proposed
changes to the Ontario Heritage Act.
London developer Shmuel Farhi, owner of numerous heritage buildings including
the Elgin County Courthouse, fears the amendments “will give municipalities
the power to designate buildings against the wishes of the landlord, prevent
demolition and force landlords to maintain facilities to standards set by the
government and heritage conservation groups.” Farhi adds “I fail to
see how the Government of Ontario can legally force landlords to maintain buildings
that may be standing empty and generating no income.”
He specifically refers to the on-going saga of Alma College. “Is the government
really prepared to take over dilapidated buildings (such as St. Thomas’
beautiful and crumbling Alma College) and restore and maintain them at taxpayers’
expense?” Instead of threatening to punish the owners of heritage properties,
Farhi argues the province should offer heritage landlords financial incentives
-- either in the form of tax breaks, loans or special grants -- to encourage
the retrofitting and restoration of culturally significant properties.
For the time being, however, the MHC in St. Thomas has prevailed in its role
as the conscience of council with regards to heritage. Members can rest easy
in the knowledge Squires has succumbed to a system that currently offers little
incentive to those with vision.
No longer can the Zubick family be accused of removing or damaging the windows,
frames and sundry other items in the main building. That will now be the sole
domain of the elements and vandals.
