23 April 2006
gone with the winds of time #1 Phase 1 original 1900 building
photos L to R: Forsyth Phase 1 built 1900 for Whitestar Mfg. & leased by John Forsyth in 1917;
- Industrial Vernacular with Italianate designe elements: detail of round-headed windows; brick pilasters; decorative brickwork along roofline; original 6/6 windows. Building structure; 3 storey timber & brick;2x6 tongue & groove maple hardwood decking; 1" pine board subflooring water leaking through roof &broken windows; building required a new roof membrane.
- per 23 Dec 05 City press release: "Forsyth brick structure unsafe: City Staff Moves Quickly to Protect Public Safety" after examination by city staff, MTE Consultants Engineers, and local masonry expert & per Record 28 Dec 05 by Meghan Hurley: "factory poses sidewalk threat" :"City officials worry that bricks from the deteriorating Forsyth building will fall on pedestrians....installed two barricades...." and hence, bricks removed by staff cf photo from second right.
- An earlier June 05 engineering report had recommended retaining the entire Phase I factory portion for its built heritage value to the community. Per 29 Nov 05 Record/T Pender: "City votes to spend $30,000 on repairs to stop leaks and install fire alarm system"; however, only $9,000 was spent to stop water damage as building was ruled unsafe.
- Problems with this 105 year-old building? the roof leaked and some windows were broken
- Environmental remediation required if City was to successfully sell this building per 21 Dec 05 inspection/ report filed 16 Jan 06: lead paint & asbestos removal (to be expected); removal of fluorescent light tubes; brid droppings; mould removal;lead pipe gaskets removal; @ cost unknown as this building portion was entirely demolished without pre-demolition remediation as public safety issue.
- Lessons learned: 1) boarded up windows signal neglect and building deterioration; 2) fencing indicates pending demolition; 3) deferral of maintenance requests effectively indicates a denial of the request.
- How long until all memory of this building and its story is erased?
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
