A Barrie landmark is up for sale. Barrie Advance Sept. 22 , 2009
Lount’s Castle, a 131-year-old Victorian home that overlooks the city from the northwest, is listed at $725,000.
Because it’s zoned multi-residential and there’s no historical designation, Heritage Barrie vice-person Caroline Smith fears someone will demolish it and build condos.
“What worries me is the question of whether the lot is more valuable as simply land? Should a demolition permit be requested, there is absolutely nothing to stop the city from simply stamping ‘approved’. The building is naked, with no protection under the Heritage Act,” said Smith.
In June, just weeks after a failed attempt to stop demolition of a downtown Victorian building, city council ignored a Heritage Barrie recommendation to designate Lount’s Castle or even add it to a heritage registry. Adding it to a registry would have added a 60-day notification period before a
demolition permit could be issued.
“Astonishingly, council chose to delay once more and send Heritage Barrie’s recommendation off into the mists of staff review. I can’t tell you how worried I am about the fate of this completely unprotected building as it goes on the for-sale block,” she said. ( Link to full story – Barrie Advance Sept. 22, 2009 )
Full story – Lount’s Castle for Sale Sept 09 .pdf
