The former Branningham Grove doesn’t have to be destroyed in order for a large commercial development on the eastern edge of Owen Sound to go ahead.
Villarboit Development of Vaughan now plans to take the former brothel and Louis’ Steakhouse restaurant apart brick by brick — and restore it nearby on the same property.
It will be incorporated into its proposed shopping centre on the north side of 16th Street East.
Company representatives discussed the plan at a public meeting on Monday.
The public meeting was to discuss a requested rezoning of the property that will allow the shopping centre to proceed.
Architect Ron Gagliardi says the building will receive a new foundation and frame, but a significant portion of the existing brickwork will be used in the replication.
He says new brick that is identical to the original material will be used where the old bricks cannot be saved.
Gagliardi — who has done this kind of work before — says the interior will also be painstakingly restored.
He says the result will be a more historically accurate building than the one that currently exists, given the number of additions and renovations done over the years.
Gagliardi and Villarboit spokesperson Glen Wellings both say it could return to being a high-end restaurant — as it was when it was known as Louis’ Steakhouse — or it could be an office.
Villarboit previously stated it would demolish the building because it wants to level the hill on which it stands to bring it in line with 16th Street East.
Heritage proponents are still not happy with the thought of the building’s destruction.
Aly Boltman and Christy Hempel now say the development simply is not good for the city — particularly the downtown core.
They argue the population base of the Owen Sound area simply cannot support it.
While Boltman acknowledges she’s happy the building might yet have a productive future — Hempel told the public meeting she’d rather see it remain empty and useless than see the proposed development go ahead.