Owen Sound Council tonight will decide whether to continue with the process of trying to get the old section of St. Mary’s High School designated as a heritage building, or fold their cards and let the building be demolished.
Council was to have made a decision last week, but put it off because of the absence of a city staff member.
If Council decides not to go forward with a Conservation Review Board Hearing, that opens the door for the Bruce Grey Catholic School board to begin the process of demolishing the 118 year old structure.
The city would then negotiate with the board on the reuse of some architectural features into a new entranceway for the school and putting up an interperetive plaque.
Owen Sound Heritage expert John Harrison says Council should continue to process of designating the old school a heritage building because the old school, along with the historic St. Mary’s church forms a heritage landscape on the cities east side.
Harrison says the real problem is the Provincial Government which has not provided significiant funding for School Boards and communities to preserve their historic buildings.
He says the Province talks all the time about heritage preservation, but does not follow up that talk with the necessary funding to do the job.
Harrison says the School Board and City should partner with other boards and Municipalities and demand the Province make money available for heritage preservation.