Gone

Hyatt and MacDonald houses demolished

What started as a quiet Thursday morning in the County ended with the sound of an excavator crushing history. The Hyatt and MacDonald houses were torn down while Save Heritage Sandbanks Homes (SHSH) was in the process of filing court documents to save them. SHSH was filing a motion for an interim stay, in hopes that a judicial review of the demolition would be granted. Unfortunately, both houses were a pile of rubble before the motion was filed.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks took the homes down saying they presented health and safety risks due to their condition and that the homes “are of limited heritage value as there is nothing unique about them.” In recent months, SHSH has asked repeatedly for dialogue with the park and ministry officials. A letter last week confirmed demolition of the Hyatt and MacDonald homes built in 1869 and 1878 would move forward. The ministry stated the homes were not worth saving despite reports from local heritage architects that the homes were of distinct historic value, and able to be restored without incurring taxpayer dollars. The ministry had countered that even if private funding were to be secured, Ontario Parks would still incur annual costs for operating and maintaining the buildings. Only one structure, the MacDonald farm hog shed had any provincial heritage value. This building will be preserved, the Ministry letter said.

By noon on Thursday, the MacDonald House in Sandbanks Park had been demolished. Some of the historic millwork could still be seen on the upper floor.

Liz Driver of SHSH was disheartened by the demolition. “Today’s demolition of the Hyatt and MacDonald houses by Ontario Parks was heartbreaking, unnecessary and unforgivable,” said Driver. “Despite the community’s clear desire for a dialogue with Ontario Parks officials and staff at Sandbanks Provincial Park about a new future for the houses, they refused to listen or engage with their County neighbours.” Driver also says the demolition weakens an already fractured relationship between the community and Sandbanks Provincial Park.

The properties are the last two remaining homes in the Sandbanks area that represent the birth of the tourism industry in Prince Edward County. Lakeshore Lodge, Lakeview Lodge, Lakeland Lodge and the Evergreen were destinations for international visitors from North America and Europe, setting a standard for experiential tourism in the County.

Kae Elgie, Chair of the Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) board of directors, said she was shocked and appalled to learn of the abrupt and needlessly brutal destruction of two heritage buildings. “Leaving aside the arguments and counter-arguments as to whether these buildings were first-class heritage, the wanton destruction of these irreplaceable building materials is reprehensible,” said Elgie, “The bricks, old growth timber, interior trim are all highly prized and sought after by heritage property owners and could have been salvaged, sold and reused. Instead MEPC wracks up landfill fees. This Ministry does not deserve to have Conservation as its middle name.” Elgie says ACO has been lobbying Provincial MPPs for the past two years to “Make Save and Reuse the Norm”, patiently pointing out the economic, tourism, job creation and environmental benefits of such an approach.

SHSH advocate Debra Marshall believed that what the ministry and park did was unforgivable. “That this would happen simultaneously as we were filing court documents was unbelievable, unwarranted and unforgivable. The indifference to public opinion is tragic,” said Marshall. “For Ontario Parks to put the value of a hog shed above that of two heritage homes is mind boggling and yet, again, two significant County heritage assets are gone.”

Prince Edward County historian Peter Lockyer says there are a number of next steps to be taken after the buildings had been demolished. “Our local government should demand—not request—a meeting with the Minister responsible for parks, the Honourable David Piccini, our local MPP Todd Smith, park officials and the community to develop a new and more equitable relationship,” he says. Lockyer believes the park operates as a separate kingdom within the municipality. “While we all recognize the economic spin off from its over 700,000 annual visitors, there is also a cost to the community from congested road traffic, litter and garbage, noise, and other inconveniences from such a heavy influx of tourists over a short season.” Lockyer is suggesting a minimum $2 per person heritage fee that assists the community in maintaining and restoring its many heritage buildings and cultural properties. “This would be a significant step forward in repairing the park’s dismal relationship with the community around it,” adds Lockyer.

Mayor Steve Ferguson, who has been working for months to save the buildings, was sad to see them go. “I am disappointed that the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks moved ahead with the demolition of Hyatt and MacDonald houses. County Council had joined calls encouraging the Ministry to seek innovative options for preservation as an alternative to demolition. I want to recognize volunteers in our community whose dedication and passion to this cause were admirable. They certainly did all they could to save this important part of our heritage in Prince Edward County, and I respect their efforts,” he said.

The Ministry said public consultation took place before the decision was made to demolish the buildings. Following the demolition, Ontario Parks will invite the Prince Edward Heritage Advisory Committee and “other interested individuals” to commemorate the buildings and install a plaque at the site. A consultation will take place on how to use the site in the future.