Peter Wokral, Senior Heritage Planner, provided a brief overview of the proposed demolition, noting that the applicant had submitted three condition assessments which all concluded that the building could not be conserved due to it being unsafe. He also provided a timeline of events including the fire that occurred on June 15, 2024, which impacted the structural integrity of the building. Staff have therefore recommended that the Committee support the demolition of the building subject to certain conditions.
The Committee heard deputations from the following concerned citizens:
- Valerie Burke - who expressed support for the preservation of this heritage building.
- Barry Nelson - who expressed opposition to the demolition permit application.
There was a lengthy discussion on the following:
- Whether the owner entered into a heritage agreement;
- The cultural significance of the building;
- The merits of preserving the building;
- Possible ways of dismantling the building and the preservation of components that could be incorporated into its reconstruction;
- The appropriate storage of salvaged material offsite so it could be reincorporated into the reconstruction of the Munshaw House;
- Appropriate contributions to the Markham Heritage Fund in compensation for the demolition of the building;
- The cause of the fire;
- The exploration of all restoration avenues before determining that there is no other option than demolition;
- The provision of additional photos of the building to provide a more thorough understanding of the extent of the fire damage;
- The possibility of a peer review of the engineering reports to confirm the findings of the three consultants; and
- The possible demolition/dismantling of the building with conditions.
Alex Beduz from Condor Properties, the applicant, advised that the current condition of the building poses a health and safety risk and that he is not willing to permit any further consultants to enter the building knowing that the building is at risk of collapse.
Neil Puype, Principal, Facet Group, summarized the report prepared by his firm, noting that reconstruction would require stabilization and retention of the exterior walls to facilitate the potential removal of material for salvage. He stated that the only way to safely remove the roof would be by machine and that could compromise the rest of the structure.
The Committee discussed conservation of the building as well as demolition and reconstruction with salvaged materials. The Committee ultimately recommended the demolition/dismantling of the building subject to certain conditions.