Windsor couple wants heritage designation dropped from Riverside home

A Windsor couple wants the city to remove a heritage designation from their Riverside Drive home, so that potential buyers won't be dissuaded from considering its purchase.

The blue, farm-style home at 4371 Riverside Drive E., sits on the south side of the road, across from Goose Bay Park, with a clear view of the Detroit River and Belle Isle. It is believed that it was built more than 150 years ago.

In 1999, the homeowners asked the city to designate it as a heritage property. But now they want that reversed so they can sell their home.

Speaking to CBC Radio's Windsor Morning on Monday, Bruck Easton explained that he and his wife, Carol, have found buyers are reluctant to consider the property, given its status.

"Over the years, we've been happy to certainly honour the heritage of the house," he said Monday morning.

"But I have to say we haven't ever received any benefit for having it designated. It's just designated — there's no tax break, no monies that ever came to us as a result of doing that."

Now that the couple is selling, Easton said he and his wife have found that when they tell a buyer the house is a heritage property, "you can sort of watch the buyers just turn around and walk out."

The couple have asked for a repeal of the heritage designation, but city staff are recommending that this request be turned down.

John Calhoun, the city's heritage planner, also spoke to CBC News on Monday about the Riverside Drive property. He explained the staff perspective as to why they favour keeping its heritage designation intact.

"The concern is that the city's heritage needs to be well conserved and this is one of the most unusual examples of an early French-descended farmhouse," he told Windsor Morning in an interview on Monday morning.

"So the city policies and so forth, do recommend such a status for properties that are of such unique heritage character."

While Calhoun admits he has heard other Windsor homeowners reporting occasional issues with selling their own heritage properties, he said that the city is willing to speak with any prospective buyers about any concerns they may have. 

The city's planning, heritage and economic development standing committee dealt with the application from the couple at a meeting on Monday.

The committee said there was nothing they could do. The Eastons are upset and plan to take the issue before city council soon.