When the Innisfil Heritage Advisory Committee met earlier this summer, they received a report from the town’s Chief Building Official, providing an update on several properties within Cookstown’s Heritage Conservation District that have been the subject of compliance orders.
The current condition of the properties, notably 7 King St. N. and 15-17 Queen St. in Cookstown, is “not acceptable” within a designated heritage district, said member Roger Johnson.
The committee passed a resolution calling on Innisfil Council to “consider directing staff to develop an action plan to address property standards and stabilization for vacant heritage buildings in Cookstown.”
The request came to council earlier this week.
“The current bylaw does actually protect, but maybe we need more teeth,” said Coun. Rob Nicol, asking that the resolution be amended, and that “Council direct staff to develop an action plan” – rather than just consider the request.
Coun. Carolyn Payne, chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee, supported the change.
“This is a really important thing,” Coun. Payne said. “We go around and assess some of these homes that are left vacant… People are using the vacant homes as dumps. They’re breaking down doors, they’re going through windows. It’s really sad to see.”
Payne suggested the developers should be required to secure access against vandals, or even to rent out vacant properties.
“At least someone’s living in there, so it’s sort of a deterrent from anyone going and dumping their garbage,” she said. “If it’s left vacant, they just go in and wreak havoc.”
She added, “Something really does have to be done to look after these heritage homes.”
“That’s something we can think about,” said Director of Growth Tim Cane, noting that one item in the 2021 budget is an update of the Heritage Conservation District policy. Additional protections could be considered, he said.
“I empathize with the Heritage Committee,” said CBO Barrie Vickers. “It is a challenge to look after these properties,” and to work with developers whose “interests don’t always align with the Town.”
Vickers pointed out that the issue of vacant and decaying heritage buildings is a problem in other jurisdictions, not only Innisfil, and indicated that his department will investigate options.
“It’s going to take a certain amount of work to tackle this issue,” he said, promising to come back to council with suggestions.
“I call it demolition by neglect,” said Mayor Lynn Dollin, suggesting that Hindle Manor, also known as Ravenscraig, be added to the list. Ravenscraig is outside of the Cookstown Heritage Conservation District, but is a Heritage building within a plan of subdivision, at 34 King St. South – and has fallen into disrepair over the years.
Council voted in favour of the resolution.
