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London

Compromise On Heritage Building Demolition

Three out of four historic buildings at the former South Street Hospital will remain.

Council voted to save the 1922 portion of the War Memorial Children's Hospital, the entire Colborne Building and the Health Sciences Building. The former Gartshore Nurses Residence will meet the wrecking ball.

City staff had recommended keeping only the Colborne Building and the oldest portions of the War Memorial Children's Hospital as a compromise. It was estimated keeping and renovating all four buildings would cost a future developer near $60-million.

"The Gartshore Nurses Residence, its structure is challenging in such that it would be really challenging to find an adaptive reuse for it," says Deputy Mayor Paul Hubert. "We have to balance the caring costs, the redevelopment costs, the asbestos abatement and all of those sorts of things, as well as the opportunity to redevelop the site."

The three remaining buildings will be incorporated into the design for a mixed use residential and commercial community along the banks of the Thames River.

The city is currently reviewing site plan proposals from interested developers.

Those passionate about the city's heritage and architectural history were urging councilors to save all four buildings.

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