Former Windsor playing card factory recommended for heritage designation

Former International Playing Card Company building at 1123 Mercer Street

One of Windsor’s last remaining factories near the downtown area may be saved from the wrecking ball.

Building owners were before the city's planning and heritage committee Monday night looking for a demolition permit.

The Vitale Family says there is a party interested in the four acres of land at 1123 Mercer St. but not the 1920s building – which once housed the International Playing Card Company.

In its heyday, the factory produced about 5 million bicycle and bee brand playing cards annually, according to a city report.

The building, which is composed of 1123-1167 Mercer St. was listed on Windsor’s heritage register in 2008.

The interested buyer and future uses for the land are not publicly known. The owners stated potential suitors may build a two-floor facility – and aren’t interested in renovating the existing building, according to information contained in the demolition application.

Because of this, administration recommended keeping the “building in place rather than grant the unknown possibility of new construction – or a vacant lot where a sound heritage building once stood,” according to the report authored by City Heritage Planner John Calhoun.

The committee ultimately voted 5-4 in favour of saving the building. Councillor Chris Holt says the building has many heritage characteristics. Holt says once it’s demolished, there’s no going back.

"There's a lot of heritage buildings that tend to be looked at more as disposable and industrial buildings tend to be one of them,” Holt said after the meeting. “If we don't need it we just sort of get rid of it and hope for another better use. So it's gotten to the point where there's very few of them left in the city, especially very old ones."

The recommendation will go to council in about a month for final debate on the matter.