It’s sad that so many owners of buildings in Lindsay’s downtown core do not value the historic significance of their building or take some pride in preserving the appeal of the downtown streetscape. A recent example is the building at 10 William Street South. The building is a designated “Heritage Landmark” but recently underwent a partial external renovation that leaves the sidewall in an aluminum (or steel) cover-up of the brick exterior, which required pointing,cleaning and repair. The owners are no doubt pleased that the job is complete. That said, what the hell were they thinking? Imagine our streetscape if these blunders continue. We have seen renovations like this before. The old Lindsay Post building, also on William Street and the building on the northeast corner of York Street and Kent Street West are like examples. Perhaps building owners cannot afford to preserve the heritage values of their buildings or perhaps they simply do not care. When I first moved to Lindsay I observed the potential of our streetscape to serve a tourism destination akin to Niagara-on-the-Lake. That vision is diminishing despite the valiant efforts of a few concerned citizens and groups like the Downtown Enhancement Committee.
For the week ending May 8th 2010 Ridout Photography presents an “UGLY” award to the owner or owners of this building. Please contact Ridout Photography for a one hundred dollar award certificate for any product or service we offer. Congratulations on destroying another great downtown building.

Addendum

After receiving this e mail below I thought I would reply and clear up any confusion

“Dear Mark:

After reading your latest “Ugly” award we were appalled at your lack of knowledge. We think you would be better served by getting to know your victims before criticizing them so harshly. The owners of this building are kind and extremely generous people in this community who not only give back to this community they are also very well thought of and respected. I am sure that a lot of thought and consideration went into this renovation before it happened. Such a personal attack is better left elsewhere. We are sure you are only hurting your own business by being so reckless in your opinions.”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lori & Rebecca,

I’m sorry to hear that you were “appalled by my lack of knowledge”. When it comes to heritage landmark buildings I sometimes miss the finer points of melding new world aluminum with traditional brick construction. What thought process would have been followed for such an approach other than to save money and get the job done quickly? Perhaps you will convince the building owners to submit their handwork for a heritage preservation award or even the Lindsay and District Chamber “Design Improvement Award” and I will be shown the error of my ways. In regard to your second point I’m curious as to how a critique of a building renovation can be seen as a personal attack. Your logic here is as unfathomable as the aluminum siding I first commented on. I believe that it’s appropriate for anyone to express an opinion on what they see in the public domain. If that ruffles a few feathers then so be it. The topic of architectural heritage needs to be discussed and it’s an important dialogue to have. As for me losing customers, I would expect that most people can keep a disagreement over opinions on aluminum siding in perspective. Cheers- Mark

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

and a recent comment from a viewer:

“I am sure that a lot of thought and consideration went into this renovation before it happened”.

In life there are times when a picture requires no verbiage, no comment, no verbal notation to guide the onlooker. Some epistles, a casual uncanny thought perhaps, only serve to exacerbate the incorrigible act that has befallen this historical building.

Not only has this Century building been lambasted by commercial grade aluminum, but it must suffer the ridicule of having the Heritage Landmark Corporation of Lindsay plaque still intact. Even airlines have the common sense to paint out any identifying logos on a plane wreck. This is an architectural embarrassment. This is pork with a Fillet Mignon label.

I don’t know what I am more disgusted with. The mess of the building, or individuals that incredibly can muster any degree of cerebral feeling that “it’s OK” to do this to a historical structure.

Your children will surely talk of your stupidity long after you are gone. For it is them that you leave behind to look at it every day.

Nice legacy….

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Mark & Lemmings

I believe that if you want these buildings preseved in such a fashion you should finance these little projects. (Since the Heritage fund and government would not offer the assistance) The cost for a renovation like this (which would be well over $100,000.00) would be better spent by helping the less fortunate or feeding the starving children in this world, it is only a building, lasting impressions and legacies should be made by people not building…

“Be the change that you want to see in the world.”
Mohandas Gandhi

Lyra

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lyra,

Based upon the personal nature of your comments I trust that you were involved in this architectural atrocity. I’m sorry if the building owners couldn’t afford to do the right thing here. A professed lack of funds doesn’t give them absolution for vandalism. Crying poor is an excuse I would expect of a 13 year old shop lifter. Am I to understand that the renovation didn’t happen because the money was sent to a charity in the name of Ghandi? How patently ridiculous. You should now follow your own logic, sell the building to someone with more civic responsibility, give the proceeds to poor people and board the next plane for the slums of Calcutta. Great quote you used here “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”. I gather from that you would like to see more heritage buildings covered in aluminum. Shame on you for using a great man’s quotes to cover your own poor judgment and lack of civic responsibility.