The former Orchard House is expected to be one of the most eagerly awaited items on the agenda of city council’s Monday afternoon meeting, March 27.
The site, at 720 - 22nd St. NE, across from the SASCU Recreation Centre, is listed in two agenda items.
The first is a letter from a Preserving Dilkusha group focusing on a proposal for a revitalization project to save the building. It contains both a 44-page and a 91-page submission, including letters of support and petitions, as well as a proposal for saving the structure, along with supporting documents.
The second is the continuation of an item deferred when council was considering demolition of the building. That item, from Jan. 16, states “the Community Heritage Register is an ongoing process and the demolition of the Orchard House be delayed for a period of two months after the January 16, 2017 regular council meeting to allow for an evaluation of its heritage values and for the commission to provide recommendations to council.”
The city announced on Nov. 29, 2016 its purchase of the one-acre or 4,400-square-metre property with the plan to demolish the building and use the site for future expansion of the rec centre, specifically for a new pool.
Since then, some citizens have rallied to save the structure while others are opposed to spending taxpayer dollars on it.
The council meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort in the Seymour Salon room.