Ventin building to keep its heritage designation

The heritage designation will remain on the Ventin building at 45 Peel Street, Simcoe. Since 1910, it has served as a post office and customs building, town hall, bank, dance studio, and the offices for Ventin Architects. Only the exterior of the building is protected through the heritage designation. 

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

A Simcoe property owner won’t be getting his wish to have a Peel Street building he owns removed from heritage designation.

While Norfolk councillors acknowledged the situation Harrish Rajput finds himself in, and that he bought the old post office/Ventin building with the best of intentions, they ultimately couldn’t support his request to have the building de-designated.

“I appreciate the sentiment shared by the property owner, however, I think there are a number of things that need to be considered. I truly appreciate the 53 objections that were received, that’s quite a lot,” said Coun. Alan Duthie, referring to correspondence received by the municipality during a public consultation period to the County considering de-designating 45 Peel Street.

“This building has been designated since the ‘80s, they knew what they were getting into and there are resources available to try and assist,” Duthie said.

Rajput blamed the heritage designation for playing a role in the challenges he’s had in getting insurance for the building and finding a tenant. He said previous requests to Norfolk County for some kind of support have failed.

“Our intention is not to demolish the building… our intention is to bring a potential client to the building,” Rajput said.

The building dates back to 1910 and represents a Neoclassical/Georgian style, according to a staff report. It served as a post office and customs building, town hall, a bank, dance studio and the offices for Ventin Architects. Only the exterior of the building is protected through the heritage designation, as the interior has undergone various changes.

Council let the process move forward after Rajput requested de-designation earlier this year. However, in addition to the more than 50 objections received, staff also recommended leaving the building under heritage protection.

“The Ontario Heritage Act does allow for de-designation of assets, but this usually involves buildings that have lost their historic significance through irreparable deterioration, fire, neglect, demolition, or other significant loss of historic fabric. This is not the case in this instance,” said planner Andrew Wallace.

Wallace also said Rajput’s assertions that his troubles finding tenants or insurance is also anecdotal, and staff weren’t provided with any documentation backing up the claims.

Two members of the public shared their support of keeping the building designated.

“To date it remains a well-preserved historic jewel in our community,” said Paul Vehof.

Others said the building’s association with Carlos Ventin - who was a well-known advocate for heritage preservation - only enhanced the building’s heritage bonafides.

“It’s more significant now than it was even when it was designated in 1981 because of the reputation of Carlos Ventin,” said Karen Scott Booth, a member of the Architecture Conservancy of Ontario, who drove from her home in Cambridge to present.

“This is one of the most significant buildings probably in your region, if not the province.”

While Norfolk will keep the heritage designation on the building, Coun. Chris Van Paassen did point out how changes over the years have made heritage designation more one-sided and less fair.

“When something benefits society as a whole, well that should be paid for by society as a whole, not the individual,” he said. 

When the Province passed the Ontario Heritage Act, he said designation came with support for property owners. But as the years passed on, those supports evaporated.

“It was given (heritage designation) under certain conditions and those conditions no longer exist,” Van Paassen said.