This attempt to demolish the CHCH building and leave the heritage building on Jackson Street West without adequate supports, is just like what happened with the James Street Baptist Church, the Connolly, at the corner of James Street South and Jackson Street West.
When is Television City due to be built? 2027! The developer should be forced to wait until building is imminent before demolishing anything. From what I've seen, like with the Tivoli, demolition is used to make properties as appealing as possible for resale.
Without adequate structural support, heat, and cooling, this building, like the Connolly, will deteriorate over time. It's the wrong way to go, and an absolutely inappropriate time to try to push this through, right in the middle of a municipal election.
From what I've heard, there's not been an engineering report to address any of these concerns, and almost no notice to anyone. I'd know, as I practically live across the street from this development and had no idea.
Again, this is happening on Jason Farr's watch and he hasn't said a word about it. His record tells us that he'll stand aside and let developers destroy our built heritage. I hope that the ratification of this decision is left to the next Council and not rushed through now.
ID 1 - The heritage building at 163 Jackson Street West that is attached to the former CHCH building.