Cambridge to release confidential information on Preston Springs demolition
Posted Jan 29, 2021 12:00:00 PM.
On Thursday, Cambridge City Council met for a special council meeting. The discussion was about the demolition of Preston Springs Hotel, the 132-year-old building that was vacant and exposed to the elements for 30 years.
During the meeting, the City's Chief Building Officer (CBO) Dennis Purcell who exercised his authority under the Building Code Act, 1992, and issued an Emergency Order to go ahead with demolition mentioned while heritage is important, it should never come at the expense to public safety.
“So delays to the demolition of this unsafe structure continued to increase the circumstances of not if, but when someone was going to get injured, or tragically killed.”
Nine delegations voiced their concerns to council about the demolition, including resident Christine Rier who will never forget the day the piece of Cambridge history got brought to the ground. “I was present to witness the destruction of one of the most iconic pieces of our community and heritage, I have yet to be able to revisit the site because it's simply too distressing.”
Council then voted unanimously in favour of the motion to release confidential information on Preston Springs demolition, which was presented in a closed session on January 21, 2020. It will be available online at EngageCambridge.
However, other related documents will be available online dating back to the 1990s once City Solicitor Lisa Shields is finished reviewing it.
Council also voted in favour of staff to report back with more options related to heritage conservation, such as additional staff with heritage expertise, which is something Mayor Kathryn McGarry is looking forward to. “So that we as a city can move ahead confidently that we are going to continue to protect and preserve our heritage buildings.”
The final motion brought forward by Ward 7 Councillor Jan Liggett regarding an external audit, and community assurance towards remaining heritage is valued, respected, and protected was deferred to March 2 after a six to three vote.
