11-20-2018, 09:54 AM
Quote:Council voted 7-3 Monday against protecting the distinctive concrete facade of the Sears building with a heritage designation.
Building owner Cadillac Fairview wants to demolish the facade and part of the building in a major redevelopment of Fairview Park mall. Finley McEwen, Cadillac Fairview's senior vice president of development, urged council not to designate the building. The 53-year-old Sears building, with its distinctive facade of ribbed, precast concrete, was built in the Kennedy-era International style and is locally unique.
The heritage designation "would essentially render the property undevelopable," McEwen said. "It would essentially tie our hand and prevent a one-in-50-year redevelopment opportunity from progressing."
Looks like things are good to move forward here.