Brantford Colborne Point | ?m | ?s | Vrancor Development

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An entire street of 41 heritage structures, including what's purportedly the longest stretch of pre-confederate buildings in the province of Ontario is to be demolished by Brantford city council in March.

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No plans to spare any of the buildings, whether they're structurally sound (as most of them are) or even are really in need of renovations (but most are).

Some more info via my tumblr, including a document detailing the buildings and some of the arguments for why the buildings should be rehabilitated: http://social.aking.ca/post/253861939

The federal government just gave a grant for $1.38million toward demolition costs (there are no plans currently to rebuild the stretch, or even to salvage or recycle the 3 city blocks' worth of brick, wood, metal, etc.) and most of city council is desparately trying to avoid having public meetings on this issue before they can demolish the buildings ahead of fall elections.

We're trying to drum up some opposition for this, and we need help! A Facebook group started 4 days ago, with 800+ members already: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=264835224286

Please email Heritage Canada, cwiebe@heritagecanada.org about this! And if you can, please write our city councillors about it as well:
dmccreary@brantford.ca,
MCeschi-Smith@brantford.ca,
jcalnan@brantford.ca,
jkinneman@brantford.ca,
jsless@brantford.ca,
vbucci@brantford.ca,
MLittell@brantford.ca,
jbradford@brantford.ca,
gmartin@brantford.ca,
rcarpenter@brantford.ca,
mhancock@brantford.ca

More photos to come! (There are ones being added to the Facebook group continuously.)
 
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Photos of Colborne Street past, present (and hopefully future.)

Here are a variety of photos, including historical photos (mostly the street looks the same), present day, and one rendering of a rehabilitated stretch of pre-confederate buildings across from Harmony Square (our public skating rink/splash pad/civic square).

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Collage of some pre-confederate buildings: http://stevemunday.com/Photo gallery/Brantford.jpg

Document from the Heritage committee (includes full collage of buildings to be demolished): http://issuu.com/sabbatical/docs/colborne-rehabilitation
 

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Keep in mind although in most of these photos the buildings look like they range from 2-4 storeys, they are sitting on a hill, and the backsides (which once faced the old canal - now replaced by a large parking garage) are 5-8 storeys high, with loading docks, backside storefronts, terraces, patios, working elevators in some buildings, etc.

Inside the buildings, virtually all are structurally sound, but need some level of renovation. Ranging from none at all to needing to be taken down to the brick and floor joists.

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This particular building the Brantford Arts Block wants to have for an arts centre (you should see the glorious building beside it as well!):
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I sent emails to the Council. I hope there's enough opposition.
I think everyone at UT should be jumping on board. It's what a community is for, no?
 
that's awful. if there's any reasons to visit brantford, that stretch of ontario history which they're about to wipe out would be high up on that list.
 
Wow. This is an appalling proposition for 2010. Everyone on UT should make their voices heard.
 
Brantford already has the most unfortunate central city of anyplace I've ever seen in Canada. What material do they have in their heads? They must be living in the 1950's or something. Sad.
 
Just wow! I've promoted this to our main news story today on the home page and have sent message via twitter and facebook. Maybe something can be done before its too late.
 
I'm outraged. I already witnessed the destruction of Talbot Street in London, which once was the longest uninterrupted streetscape of heritage buildings extant at that time. The bland block-busting pile they put up in its place just adds insult to injury. Count me in on any protest!
 
This is a complete disgrace! :mad:

For years Brantford has been neglected by its own Mayor and City Council.

It has let its downtown rot.

There is not now, nor has there ever been an excuse.

We need to be up in arms defending what little this community has left and not letting its Heritage and Ontario's be wiped out through a total lack of foresight.

I would encourage everyone to write to Brantford's Mayor and Council; but also their local media.

For those w/media connections in this town, I think its story worth, starting w/Spacing.

But let's add in, nothing beats TV exposure, Maybe CHCH?

Let's shine a light on this?

For those looking for the contact info for the Brantford polity:

CITY HALL
100 Wellington Square, P.O. Box 818,
Brantford, ON N3T 5R7, Canada
Phone: 519 759-4150

Mayor: Mike Hancock
mhancock@brantford.ca

This is link to the page with all the councillors:

http://www.brantford.ca/content/publishing.nsf/Content/Members+of+Council

The City Manager is also worth looking into. (no email provided on the website, use general city hall number)

AND

Brantford Media need to be brought in on this!

opinion@theexpositor.com
 
Oh my, this is terrible. Right here is a beautiful streetscape and it's all getting ripped down? The things that could be done to build that downtown up with those buildings... It could actually be really interesting and a great opportunity.

And what exactly are they even demolishing them for? If I'm not mistaken, Brantford's downtown is essentially dead and it's local economy isn't even doing that well in the first place. Do they just want some space for the deer to roam or something?
 
Poor Brantford! So beautiful yet so neglected.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, this is an immense desecration of history and as others have said, a backwards move to the 1950s.

Everyone should get on board... what about tipping off Spacing about this?
 
Maybe someone could help us that don't know Brantford so well.

What reason has been given for the demolition....it seems here are nice looking, structuraly sound buildings...yet they are being torn down.

Is there a plan to replace them with something?
 
I'm scared of the shite they would replace this with. Seriously. Scared.

It's quite sad. Gut the history of Upper Canada from the inside out.
Greased-up politicos with a 50s mentality.

I e-mailed that C Wiebe character at Heritage Canada as well as the councillors and mayor. Kinda laid it out for them.

I guess I gotta get to Brantford this spring.

PS: I've never been to Brantford. Is it one of those Ontario towns with a dead downtown but where the big box garbage on the outskirts is rolling in money?
 
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