Markham budget passes despite complaint over heritage home purchase
'We think with the heart instead of thinking with the brain when it comes to heritage matters'

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 13, 2017
Tim Kelly

It looked like passing the 2018 Markham city budget would be a slam dunk.

And it would have been unanimous except Ward 5 Coun. Colin Campbell had different ideas Tuesday night.

The only member of council present to vote against what others felt was a very good 2.90 per cent city tax increase for the coming year -- Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Coun. Logan Kanapathi glowingly praised the budget -- Campbell had biting criticism for one particular aspect of city spending.

A municipal land purchase that included a heritage home came under fire from Campbell who felt buying the home was a waste of taxpayers' money.

"We've purchased a heritage building on a piece of land which the city owns, which is going to be surrounded by commercial and retail buildings in future. We're going to spend upwards of a half-a-million dollars to put this building in shape and lease it out to a daycare or whatever... we're more than likely going to be responsible for building repairs," said Campbell.

The councillor said the heritage house should be moved to the city's Heritage Estates location and said he knew of a resident willing to spend $250,000 to move it.

"This is the prime location for this building to go; by the time it's finished (at its current site), we're probably putting in $700,000 or $800,000 into this home, that's half-a-per cent on the taxes. We think with the heart instead of thinking with the brain when it comes to heritage matters," he said.

"I think it's a waste of money."

Coun. Karen Rea said the city is committed to restoring the house as the landowner.

"We have the same rules as everybody else here. That heritage building should be restored on site."

he 79-acre parcel the city purchased runs from Hwy. 404 to Woodbine Avenue and from 19th Avenue to the Stouffville line.

CAO Andy Taylor said the "city negotiated a fair price" for the land, knew about the heritage features on the land and closed the purchase several weeks ago.

Campbell’s motion to cancel the purchase of the heritage home lost on a tie vote.