Heritage designation limits real estate sale
Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Kate EversonEMC News -Trenton -The owners of a property at 72 Byron Street once owned by local surgeon Dr. McDonald want the heritage designation taken off so they can sell it.
"Removal of the heritage designation would increase the possibility of selling the house," writes Sandy Mc-Donald on behalf of the executors for the estate of Jean McDonald.
Charlie Murphy, director of Planning and Development Services, noted, "Once a property has been designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, a property owner must apply to the local municipality for a permit to undertake alterations. "
He notes that the current designation is too vague and does not provide a clear explanation on the impact of the designation. Both the Trent Port Historical Society and city staff had difficulty in providing any guidance to Mr. McDonald.
A Heritage Advisory Committee was formed in October, 2011 which has been narrowed down from nine to six members which now include Jordan Bergereau, Dorothy James, Lori Harding, and John Tripp, with Ken Rose as the resource person and Councillor Ron Hamilton as the city liaison.
Ron Hamilton noted the property at 72 Byron Street was designated architecturally and historically significant in 1984. The committee recommended council amend the bylaw, in response to the request by Sandy McDonald.
A letter to Charlie Murphy from Sandy McDonald outlines the difficulty they have had in selling the house since Dr. McDonald's death on February 12, 2006, followed by Jean McDonald's passing on March 14, 2010.
"Since her death the house is now in the Estate of Jean McDonald and we have continued to try to sell the property without success," Mc-Donald writes.
He says the price of the house has decreased gradually from $399,900 on April 22, 2008 to $239,900 on April 15, 2011.
"Recently, we had one very interested party view the house several times but has now decided not to pursue the purchase due to the heritage designation," he writes. "The potential buyer feels they cannot invest money in a house not knowing what can and cannot be renovated."
McDonald said the designation is based on a six-page narrative focusing on the ownership of the house. This included the exterior limestone walls, roof line, entranceway and two chimneys which cannot be altered. The architectural style is described as a combination of classical revival and Gothic revival. It was built symmetrical in shape out of local limestone.
The property was originally known as the Stuart-McDonald House. The land was granted to William Wallace Stuart for 508 pounds in October, 1855, from the lands under Bishop Strachan's control.
This purchase included the entire block from Byron Street to South Street and from George Street to Princess Street. Stuart was a merchant and is believed to have been the builder of the structure.
The house was occupied by Stuart and his wife Mary Henriettea until 1859 when it was sold to Allan Gilmour for $2,400. Gilmour was a prominent citizen and one of the owners of the Gilmour Lumber Company. He occupied the house until 1863 when it was sold to Sheldon Hawley who was a merchant, politician and a soldier. The property was sold by his widow in 1871 to Mary Jane Stone, the widow of the Reverend Arthur Stone.
It changed hands several more times before being purchased by the McDonalds in 1953. Dr. McDonald practised surgery in Trenton for 55 years and performed the first surgery at the newly opened Trenton Memorial Hospital in 1951.
Les and Jean McDonald were very involved in the community including local service clubs, fund-raising groups and King Street United Church.
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