For a while it looked like the 1911 heritage house on Maitland Avenue being offered up for free might get a reprieve.
But after the developer tried to find someone who could undertake the cost of moving the Pearson House, as it was known, it was determined it was not structurally sound enough to ultimately withstand being transported.
Coun. Jason Lum asked during the last council meeting if anyone had come forward with a proposal to move the house at 7158 Maitland Ave.
Kevin Nicol, the developer with Richlane Builders, told council that unfortunately the idea to relocate the house to another site was not going to be successful.
“There is a lot of asbestos so it’s been mostly stripped out,” Nicol said.
Anyone interested in purchasing exterior heritage elements from the house, like “bits and pieces” to preserve a piece of the house’s history, such as a doorknob, or a stained glass window, as examples can email the developers at info@richlanebuilders.com
There was considerable interest in the old house expressed by members of the public last year who showed up at the original rezoning, said Laura Reid, president of Heritage Chilliwack.
“Kudos to the community and everyone who tried to move the house to save it,” Reid said. “The reality is it’s not always possible. You have to have the land to move it to, and logistically it has to be close enough to account for the high cost of the move.”
Reid said some might want to take a nostalgic last look at the home.
“It was a nice gesture on the part of the developer to let that happen,” Reid said.
Nicol said there was some interest in the house’s clapboard siding, and they’re willing to set up visits to the site as soon as the snow is gone — if there is more interest expressed in those exterior elements.
“The house is ready for demolition on the site right now, other than the weather,” Nicol added.
Part of the issue was that the structural integrity of the house was very poor in the end, as many asbestos filled materials had to be removed.
“Inside everything is pretty much gutted.”
READ MORE: Community responds to heritage home slated for demolition
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