Markham owner gets conditional permit to demolish home

yorkregion.com
April 26, 2017
By Tim Kelly

A Markham heritage home owner who worried racism might have prevented her from getting a demolition permit has been given a conditional permit to demolish her home.

Felicite Dibi, owner of 27 Church St. in Markham Village, said she had offered proof that Markham heritage homes similar to hers had been allowed to be demolished while the heritage committee had turned down her application.

She had wondered at council if the fact she is not white was the reason why she was denied a demolition application. Mayor Frank Scarpitti denied racism was at play in her situation and suggested alternatives to Dibi’s demolition application. However, Dibi said that despite a meeting with the mayor, no solution was found.

On Monday, development services committee allowed a demolition permit to go ahead, provided Dibi meets certain conditions laid down by the heritage committee, which had flatly recommended development services committee not approve demolition.

"My house is not heritage, it is complementary, but I told them I will build a heritage home in place of the home I will demolish," promised Dibi in an interview.

She said she has to submit a building plan to the heritage committee for her new home which must be approved by the committee before she can demolish her home and rebuild on the 27 Church St. site. Dibi is confident she can meet the heritage committee’s terms.

"We will adjust the plan so the heritage committee is satisfied," Dibi said.

Development Services voted 8-4 in support of allowing Dibi to demolish with conditions.

Coun. Karen Rea did not support the vote providing Dibi permission to demolish.

"When someone buys either a heritage house or in the heritage district, there are different policies to protect and preserve heritage. These homes are each uniquely different with lots of character and anyone wishing to have a home in these areas should adhere to the Heritage Conservation District Plan. The new design that was proposed does not fit in with the streetscape or character of a heritage district," Rea said.