Windsor Heritage Committee rejects home demolition

Askin Avenue residents are against the creation of an addition and partial demolition to a home at 436 Askin Ave. – a heritage-listed property.

Askin Avenue is one of the few areas left in Windsor, which has several 100-year-old homes with their original architecture. The Heritage Committee members are investigating whether to declare Askin Avenue a heritage conservation district.

Allen Djordjevic, the owner of 436 Askin, has plans to create a semi-attached addition to his home. Djordjevic applied for a permit for the demolition of his porch and deck in September.

“The Heritage committee rejected the demo,” said Djordjevic. “They only focused on the size of the addition and not the drawing itself.”

Djordjevic said he is trying to make the addition’s drawings as close to the original home as possible. He also said his drawings met all city by-laws of height restriction and lot coverage less than 40 per cent. He also said there are other homes with large additions and the same footprint as his proposed addition.

“For my home, there is no architect, no design, just basically built in 1927,” Djordjevic said.

Nearby residents on Askin Avenue disagree with Djordjevic’s proposed addition. They say it will impose upon other surrounding properties and disrespect the boulevard’s history. Three neighbours appeared before council to express their dislike.

“We have lost historic properties on Patricia and Sunset,” said Helen Martin, next-door neighbour to 436 Askin. “That’s why we’re trying to save the places that we have on Askin.”

Martin also said 436 Askin is located on a boulevard on one of the oldest streets in Windsor. The neighbours believe this addition will drastically change things for everyone.

Martin said she is concerned about the construction and heavy equipment. It will be next to her property as the alley is no longer accessible since various neighbours have bought it out.

“The committee was very helpful and they listened to us,” said Martin. “They did their best to come up with a plan to help us preserve our neighbourhood because it does deserve to be saved.”

Heritage Committee Planner, Kristina Tang, outlined the criteria needed to individually designate Askin Avenue according to Ontario regulation 906. Tang said only one of the criteria has to be met to consider the designation of the property.

“Identification of physical design, the value of the property,” said Tang. “So, meaning the architectural side to it. Then there is also the associative or historical value and contextual value.”

City council members were all in favour of the motion to preserve Askin’s heritage. They will further consider the boulevard becoming a heritage conservation district.