Designated in 2010. Threatened by road-widening, bridge reconstruction

ACO London Chair Kelley McKeating wrote to London Mayor and Council “to express support for the continued preservation of city-owned 100 Stanley Street and the current plan to move it to city-owned land on the west side of Wharncliffe Road.”

“100 Stanley Street is a particularly outstanding example of the Queen Anne style in both its interior and exterior design.. Section 1.7.1(e) of the 2020 Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) states that “Long-term economic prosperity should be supported by ... conserving features that help define character, including built heritage and cultural heritage landscapes”. Section 2.6.1 of the PPS states that “Significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved”.

But to no avail. March 23, 2021, Megan Stacey of the London Free Press:

“City council ignored advice from staff and ordered a major U-turn on Tuesday, voting 8-7 to demolish the heritage house at 100 Stanley St. instead of moving it across the street — a compromise ironed out in 2018 after a fierce community effort. The compromise was essentially erased as politicians grappled with the inflated bill — now about $1 million — to relocate the house.”  . . . “Demolition requires a change to the environmental assessment, meaning London now needs to wait for another approval from the province before it can do the work on Wharncliffe. It also opens the door for heritage appeals that could tie up the project.”

City staff estimated a two to three per cent rise in cost for each year the work is pushed back.

After the vote dissenting Councillor Maureen Cassidy remarked “It’s not going to save the taxpayers any money. Why would we take all those extra risks, put all those other projects in jeopardy, for political gain?”