Group calls the possible demolition of Stratford’s first public hospital ‘a waste of history’
Group calls the possible demolition of Stratford’s first public hospital ‘a waste of history’
Heritage advocates are trying to put a stop to an open bid to demolish Stratford’s first public hospital but the organization that owns the building believes it doesn’t make financial sense to try to preserve it.
Avon Crest Hospital, located on John Street South, was built 132 years ago in 1891 and currently sits across the street from Stratford General Hospital.
Retired architect Robert Lemon is part of a group called Save Avon Crest. Its members are trying to stop the demolition of the hospital.
“Not just saving the building, but preserving the building and repurposing it,” Lemon told CTV News.
The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) owns the building and has started taking bids for the job of tearing it down. But Save Avon Crest members are hoping that doesn’t happen.
“There's a petition with well over 800 names on it that's circulating. People from across Canada are interested in this building because it's one of the few surviving hospitals that was designed – this late 19th century period that still survives,” Lemon said.
Lemon also cited environmental concerns.
“We're right adjacent to the Avon River so we're concerned there may be environmental consequences for demolition activity that might affect the Upper Thames water authority,” he said.
Lemon believes the building holds so much history that it helped the community take shape.
“Demolition is an act of violence,” Lemon said, recalling a French architecture firm’s philosophy that is against demolishing buildings. “It's a waste of energy. It's a waste of materials. It's a waste of history.”
The group is suggesting the building be repurposed as a hospice, Ronald McDonald House or even a hotel for families visiting loved ones at Stratford General Hospital.
But the HPHA said financially it isn’t feasible.
“We've had some estimates done on the building that show about $24 million required just to bring it up to code. And that would not include any repurposing costs that would be necessary from a developer point of view,” said Andrew Williams, the CEO of the HPHA.
Avon Crest’s physical location, right in the middle of a large property, has made heritage preservation even trickier.
“Having the building on it the way it is would be a deal breaker with anybody willing to come onto the property and partner with us,” said Williams.
The HPHA said they would entertain a reasonable solution to preserving the building.
But time could be running out.
“The tender is currently active and our hope would be to award in March and secure necessary permits at that time,” Williams said.
As for what the HPHA plans to do with the site, Williams said nothing is set in stone yet but added, “future development will need to support the health and wellness needs of our community.”
As Joe Biden makes his first trip to Canada as president of the United States, CTVNews.ca is offering live coverage of the leader's visit. Follow our live blog on CTVNews.ca and the CTV News app for the latest updates.
U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived on Parliament Hill for a jam-packed day of events as part of his first official visit to Canada since taking office.
Ontario’s self-described crypto king was allegedly abducted, tortured, and beaten for days as his kidnappers looked to solicit millions in ransom, his father told a court in December.
W5 investigates aging asbestos pipes across Canada and the potential health hazards if it ends up in your tap water. Watch W5's 'Something in the Water' Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV.
An Ontario couple has filed a request with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) to appoint a new police force to investigate the death of their 17-year-old son Benjamin, who died during a hockey team-bonding event in September 2019.
Canada's restaurant industry is bracing for the biggest jump in the country's alcohol excise duty in more than 40 years, spurring warnings the tax hike could force some bars and restaurants out of business.
The idea of using firing squads is making a comeback in the U.S. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill this week seeking to add the state to the list of those authorizing firing squads, currently Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
The United States' first lady will be given a sweeping introduction to Canadian sports culture in Ottawa today as Sophie Gregoire Trudeau takes Jill Biden to the curling rink.
A St. Catherines man has been charged after a reported robbery in London. Around 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, police were called to the parking lot at Cherryhill Village Mallon Oxford Street after witnesses reported that a man with a knife was demanding items from another man.
A woman is in hospital with critical injuries after an overnight house fire in north London. Crews were called to the scene on Adelaide Street near Dufferin Avenue around 1:20 a.m.
Ontario’s self-described crypto king was allegedly abducted, tortured, and beaten for days as his kidnappers looked to solicit millions in ransom, his father told a court in December.
U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived on Parliament Hill for a jam-packed day of events as part of his first official visit to Canada since taking office.
Ontario’s self-described crypto king was allegedly abducted, tortured, and beaten for days as his kidnappers looked to solicit millions in ransom, his father told a court in December.
Toronto Coun. Josh Matlow broke council’s code of conduct by criticizing two public employees on Twitter before retaliating against one of them after she filed a complaint, the city’s integrity commissioner has found.
With fares set to increase in a matter of days, a new report has found that Torontonians are already paying more than residents in most other cities for transit when compared to average incomes.
Canada and the United States are negotiating a deal that could see asylum seekers turned back at irregular border crossings across the border, including Roxham Road in Quebec.
For the first time, the owner of a building in Old Montreal has responded to questions about the fire — through his lawyer — addressing allegations that the building was unsafe.
The Tim Houston PC government remains firm in their promise they'll fix the health-care system by spending more taxpayer money on health than any previous government before.
Manitoba’s labour force is growing at a rate to supply enough workers for available positions into 2026, according to the province’s labour market outlook.
Canada's restaurant industry is bracing for the biggest jump in the country's alcohol excise duty in more than 40 years, spurring warnings the tax hike could force some bars and restaurants out of business.
The Calgary Police Service confirms charges have been laid against a driver in connection with Thursday's crash of a semi-truck into the 32nd Avenue N.E. overpass along Deerfoot Trail.
With Calgary Board of Education students set to kick off spring break once the final bell rings Friday afternoon, some Calgarians are eager to leave the country in pursuit of warmer weather with their families.
Beaumont RCMP are advising the public that officers are currently on scene at École Secondaire Beaumont Composite High School after a threat was made against the school online.
Canada's restaurant industry is bracing for the biggest jump in the country's alcohol excise duty in more than 40 years, spurring warnings the tax hike could force some bars and restaurants out of business.
U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived on Parliament Hill for a jam-packed day of events as part of his first official visit to Canada since taking office.
A series of ancient landslides have been “reawakened” in British Columbia's Cariboo region, costing hundreds of millions in federal disaster assistance funds and prompting warnings that logging is connected to the problem.
