‘A valuable piece of property’: Richmond Row landscape changing with demolition of 70-year-old building

CTV’s Gerry Dewan with the Diocese of London and its demolition of the former St. Peter’s Elementary School.

It’s a process that’s expected to take between four and six weeks.

Built in 1959, the former St. Peter’s Elementary School is now being demolished.

The Catholic Diocese of London acquired the building in 2000.

It’s most recently been used as offices for members of the St. Peter’s Basilica Parish and for some non-profit organizations in the city. But three years ago, the diocese made the decision to tear it down.

“We recognize it’s an expensive facility to maintain. There were some significant repairs that were going to come up on the building,” said Andrew Jardine, chief financial officer for the Diocese of London.

That included work on the roof which would push into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But the decision to demolish also came with complications. While the building didn’t have a heritage designation, it sits within the West Woodfield Heritage Conservation District.

“We worked closely with the staff at the heritage department in the city. We worked closely with the building permit department. And with our city councillor, we had great support,” he said.

The property is bordered by Richmond Street to the west and Clarence Street to the east. The St. Peter’s Basilica property is on the southern edge with Angel Steet on the northern edge. It’s just steps away from Victoria Park and all the shops and restaurants on Richmond Street.

Jardine says the diocese recognizes that the property has value, but the priority is finding a path that will provide the best benefit all involved.

“It’s a growing parish community. It’s a very busy, parish, Saint Peter’s Cathedral. It also happens to be our Bishop’s home parish as well,” he said. “So, it’s an important parish within the diocese.”

Jardine says a sale of the property could benefit the entire diocese.

“It’s certainly a valuable piece of property. We recognize that. So, anything that we do with it, be it, sale development, whatever happens will be to the benefit of the whole diocese as well. We’re a large diocese,” he said.

In the meantime, the property will be fenced off until a decision is made.