Over 200 people have signed an online petition asking the city to either tear down or redevelop a heritage building that has sat empty for almost five years.
Somerset House, at the corner of Somerset and Bank streets, partially collapsed during renovations in November 2007 and its interior had to be demolished.
Since then, its future has been tied up in legal disagreements between the city and the building’s owner, TKS Holdings Inc.
According to the CBC, TKS Holdings was ordered to reimburse the city for a portion of fees related to the damage. The company appealed the decision and launched a civil case against the city.
The petition, posted at Change.org, calls for the city to resolve these disputes and proposes it either retains the heritage features of the facade and redevelops the remaining space or tears it down and uses the lot to benefit the community.
Jeff Morrison, an area resident and president of the Centretown Community Health Centre board, authored the petition, which was posted two weeks ago.
In the petition’s introduction, he wrote, “The building has become decrepit, an eyesore, and a source of embarrassment for the community, rather than a source of pride.”
The petition aims for 250 signatures and has gathered 209 as of 11 a.m. Friday.
Andrew Elliot, who signed the petition, wrote, “The building needs to be restored. It is a beautiful historic place and a landmark in the community and of Bank Street. It could easily be renovated, restored, and re-used.”
He says the longer the building is left derelict, the harder it will be to fix.
Another signer, Richard Puddy, wrote, “Just because a building is a ‘heritage’ building shouldn't mean ‘keep at all costs.’ . . . The building collapsed! It's lucky no one was killed.”
Whether they favour redevelopment or demolition, petition supporters agree on one thing – they think the building has been left in limbo for far too long.