Homes ‘in significant disrepair’ could come off Brampton’s heritage register

A pair of abandoned heritage homes in Brampton could be moved off the City’s register to make way for downtown revitalization.

Coin. Rowena Santos has put forward a motion going to Brampton City Council on Wednesday (April 26) that could see attached homes at 164 and 166 Main Street North taken off Brampton’s list of heritage properties.

Known as the Mcllroy House on the City’s municipal register, Santos said in the motion that the building has been left vacant, is “in significant disrepair” and has become unsafe.

With the City putting a focus on infrastructure and private-sector investments in the downtown, the motion could see staff complete a Heritage Impact Assessment for the properties “that addresses the deteriorated state of the buildings” and remove them from the City’s list of heritage sites.

Under the City’s draft plan, the property is on “the gateway to downtown” designated as a Secondary Urban Boulevard approximately 200 metres from the planned Hurontario LRT transit hub and Metrolinx GO-Line, according to the motion.

Santos said in the motion that the homes “detract from the character and attractiveness of the Downtown and deter reinvestment and revitalization potential,” and that residents have made complaints about the derelict homes.

If the motion is approved, staff will report back to the Brampton Heritage Board in June with recommendations on whether to delist the property from the register. Staff would also be directed to report back to council by the fourth quarter of 2023 with a proactive plan for the City’s property standards team to proactively address issues of neglect or disrepair.

Last year, council voted to delist a handful of heritage properties on Main St. owned by Solmar Development Corp. The company is planning a development called Bristol Place on the site which would see two condo towers built on Main St. just north of Queen St. East with a total of 1,124 new units.

The properties, many of which are in a state of disrepair, make up a city block’s worth of buildings on Main St. North between Market St. and David St. One of the buildings even predates Canada’s confederation.

Another one of the properties – a seven-bedroom home known as The Blain House – was on sale for a song last year at a price of just $1.00.

Bristol Place is in pre-construction with an anticipated move-in date of 2027. Once completed it will hold the title of Brampton’s tallest building.