A couple of well-known, but badly rundown landmarks in Windsor could soon face the wrecking ball.
The city's Planning, Heritage and Economic Standing Committee will be asked to endorse two requests for demolition, one for the old Riverside Brewing Company building on Riverside Dr. E, and a second for the former Canadian Linen Supply building on Caron Ave. south of Wyandotte St. W.
Both buildings are listed on the municipal heritage registry, which means the owners have to ask for the city's permission to tear them down. City council could stop the demolition by giving them a heritage designation, but that seems unlikely. An administrative report to the committee recommends the demolition be allowed.
The former Canadian Linen Supply building has been on the municipal heritage registry since August 2008 and came into the city's hands when the previous owner fell behind on the property taxes. The building was already in decline at the time and has only deteriorated further. An engineering report says the walls could collapse.
The old Riverside Brewing Company building on Riverside near Sandpoint Beach is in even worse shape. The same people have owned it for more than 50 years, but it has been empty most of that time. Some of the floors have collapsed and there are concerns the sloped roof and a wooden penthouse could cave in.
It was designed in 1923 by the same architect that designed Prince Edward and Victoria Public Schools, the former Windsor Star building and the Canada building downtown.
