While he agrees new apartments are needed in Petrolia, a local historian doesn't think the five acre Fairbank Mansion property is a suitable location.
The owner from Michigan who asked for variance changes to build a multi-unit residence has been told by the town's Planning Department to submit further plans and recommends any agreement with David Burnie, include rehabilitation of the historic building.
Dave Hext is circulating a petition that calls for the town, the Fairbank family and the developer to come to an agreement on another site for the proposed apartment building.
"We've talked to a lot of people that have told us they'd like to buy the Fairbank house and restore it," says Hext. "There have been spas and all kinds of companies that would like to have it. That's what we'd rather see, somebody buy it with the intent of fixing it up and having some type of business to keep it up. "
He says an apartment complex is not the right fit for the property.
"It's going to take up too much space and ruin the estate," says Hext. "It's the entire property, not just the house. If you put up an apartment complex in front of it so you can't see it, what good is it?"
The 22-room stately home was built over two years beginning in 1889 by oil baron John Henry Fairbank but the upper floor and roof were severely damaged in a fire in 2002.
It's not know how structurally sound it is now, or how much it would cost to restore it.
Although the Fairbank House has heritage designation from the Town of Petrolia, it is not yet designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
