Paul Martin says state of Paul Martin Building 'inconceivable'

The City of Windsor and the federal government remain at odds over one of this city's landmarks.

The Paul Martin building on Ouellette Avenue has fallen into disrepair.

Scaffolding has lined three sides of the heritage building for the past four years. It's there to protect pedestrians from stone that might fall from the decaying structure.

The downtown building was originally built in 1934.

In 1994, it was renamed in honour of Paul Martin Sr, a Windsor Member of Parliament for 33 years.

Paul Martin Jr., the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, is the son of the man for whom that downtown building was named.

CBC Windsor reached the Right Honourable Paul Martin Jr. in Montreal to get his take on the current situation.

"Quite clearly, I have an emotional attachment because of my dad," Martin said.

The federal government owns it and wants to sell it "as is."

The city, on the other hand, would like the government to fix it up. They even had a plan to acquire the building from Ottawa and then move the University of Windsor law school there. The plan appears to have fallen through.

"What the mayor and council have wanted to do is exactly what should be done," Martin said.

Martin called it "a win-win for everybody."

"It's inconceivable to me, the Government of Canada, as the owner of the building would allow it to simply stand there with scaffolding like that, on what is essentially one of Canada's most important city's main streets," Martin said.

To listen to Martin's entire interview with Windsor Morning host Robin Brown, click the audio box above.