The Mayor of Monmouth: April 2008

April 15, 2008

METROPOLIS BLOGGER SCORES WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT

FIRE HYDRANTS IN FRONT OF
SEAGRAVE SITE BACK ON DUTY

FIRE DEPT. ORDERED FENCE RE-ROUTED AROUND HYDRANTS

FENCE TAKEN DOWN FROM BUILDING FIRE EXIT

Andrew from International Metropolis pointed out the unsafe fire hydrant scenario in front of the building formerly known as the Seagrave Building to Richard Marr, the Assistant Chief Fire Prevention Officer. Mr. Marr quickly realized that the situation was unsafe and arranged for the problem to be fixed. Fencing was re-routed around the hydrants and the fire exit on the building to the south was opened up. In one way this is another positive accomplishment by local bloggers; the "W Team". Too bad that it seems moot after losing the Seagrave building to an unscrupulous business person and an inept city administration. Thanks Andrew. Thanks Mr. Marr and Mr. Fabel.

From the Fire Department to Andrew:

Dear Andrew,

Inspector Fabel has ordered the removal of the fence from the front of the hydrants at 9:00 hrs. The workers are in the process of doing that as we speak. Inspector Fabel will follow-up later this morning and let me know.When the fence is removed I will let you know.

Richard Marr
Assistant Chief Fire Prevention Officer
Windsor Fire & Rescue Services
815 Goyeau StreetWindsor, ON N9A 1H7

April 12, 2008

SEAGRAVE DONS PARTY HATS

SEAGRAVE SITE LOCKED DOWN.
900 BLOCK OF WALKER ROAD
WITHOUT FIRE PROTECTION

One of two fire hydrants fenced inside the demolition site.

Missing hydrant on north side of Metropole Lofts at Niagra.

Lakeside Engine Repair Sign Not Attracting Much Business

Early Saturday Morning a bunch of workers accompanied by suits quickly strung chain link fence and scaffolding around the Seagrave crime scene. The Windsor Star reported today that the site has been locked down by the Ministry (whichever ministry that is) and that not even the Jones Demolition people are allowed in to finish their deed.

All of this is very interesting but there is one slight problem. They fenced in the only two fire hydrants that service the entire 900 block of Walker Road. Well, actually there is supposed to be a third one just north of Big Tony's at Niagra but that one got sheared off several months ago and hasn't been replaced yet. The fencing also covers the fire exit of the car repair garage immediately adjacent to the Seagrave building on the south side.

A couple of important questions come to mind here. Why is the site cordoned off? Is the asbestos thing a real concern? Surely it can't have anything to do with heritage designation. Too late for that.

The other question...What if there is a fire in any of the buidings on the 900 block of Walker? One might answer: "The fire department can easily cut the chain link away if they have to." Yes they can but will that give residents of the Metropole Lofts a warm fuzzy? What about Big Tony's Restaurant or the garage on the south end of the site which lost an important fire escape. What about the businesses on the opposite side of Walker? What about Lakeside Repairs which is trapped inside of the site with no point of entry or exit? What about the site itself which is a heap of 100 year old timbers?

Does anyone want to see precious minutes wasted in the event of a fire? The powers that be might want to re-address their game plan.

April 9, 2008

Historic Seagrave Building Murdered. City in on it.

CITY OF WINDSOR KEEPS DEMOLITION PLANS ON THE HUSH

Historical building demolishion Windsor Style

Seagrave building this afternoon at 5:30 P.M.

Seagrave building this morning at 8:00 A.M.

"Malicki said finally city council -- after decades of simply showing no interest in heritage at all -- is paying attention to the value of saving and restoring buildings of historical interest."
Quoted from the Windsor Star. Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
Ahhh...That would be today.

Read the full article here: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=518affd9-b67f-49ae-859b-cba358553d18&p=2

Not quite. While the ink was still drying on Ms. Malicki's Windsor Star, the Jones Demolition Company started ripping the Historic Seagrave building down not five blocks away from the Paul Martin House in Old Walkerville. As it turns out, the City of Windsor had issued a permit for the demolition. Same old City of Windsor. If it's old and historic, it's got to be raised. Sorry Pat. You weren't the only one. Nobody who witnessed the event today could believe it either. No advance warning at all. It was obviously done on the hush. There is one exception to this. Rick Gruber who is the area Building Inspector rushed out today to halt the demolition because even though there was a permit to raise the building, there was no permit to close Walker Road. In fact, the sidewalk is the only thing which separates the buiding from Walker Road. Witnesses said that a man riding a bike almost got clocked by falling bricks. Four thirty rolled around. Quittin time for city employees and Jones fired up the beast and started tearing the old girl down. Right in the middle of rush hour. One reason...They rented the rig from Amicone for a tight time window and the clock was ticking. Within two hours the building was really history. Ashok Sood who owns that property along with most of the 8 and 900 blocks of Walker Road stood on the opposite side of Walker to witness his planned demolition. He is planning to attract a "Big Box" operation on the East Side of Walker. The first modern firetrucks were produced in the Seagrave buiding. Originally built in 1904. A real link to Walkerville's and to the City of Windsor's past. But raising our heritage buildings seems to be what Windsor is all about. They never did show an interest in heritage and this should be proof Ms. Malicki that they never will. Shameful and pathetic.

http://themayorofmonmouth.blogspot.com/2007/07/seagrave-building-torched-in-wee-hours.html

Click on images to enlarge

Half way down from behind

View of demolition from the rubble

There goes the brick detail