Demolition Issues

Many of the residents of Melancthon and Mulmur may have noticed that a growing number of houses and barns, some of which have been part of our landscape since the mid 1800's, have been demolished by The Highland Companies since they have bought the properties. The Highlands' activities, sometimes referred to as Rural Blockbusting or Community Depopulation, will have a serious long term impact on our community.  In addition to the unfortunate and irreversible destruction of long standing and in certain instances historic structures that have been an important part of our rural landscape, the negative impacts of these activities will include a reduction in the realty tax base for our municipalities and a decrease in the population of our Townships.  Since The Highland Companies began amassing its landholdings, commencing in 2008, many structures have been removed.

Structures that Have Been Removed

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Published on Monday, 22 August 2011 10:18
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Since The Highland Companies began amassing its landholdings, commencing in 2008, structures on the following properties have been removed:

(1) Ferguson West Part of Lot 25, Concession 3 OS  

(2) Jamieson West Part of Lot 26, Concession 3 OS  

(3) Speers East Part of Lot 19, Concession 1 OS  

(4) Whitten  Part of Lot 276 & 277, Concession 1 NE Assessment:  

(5) Benotto (Tavares) Part of Lot 7, Concession 3 NE  

(6) Wilcox - barn and house East Part Lot 16, Concession 4 OS,  

(7) Earl  East Part Lot 19, Concession 4 OS  

(8) Fawcett East Part Lot 19, Concession 3 OS  

(9) Eichhorn East Part Lot 17, Concession 4 OS  

(10) Looby (Chenier) East Part Lot 19, Concession 4 OS  

(11) Richardson West Part Lots 20 & 21, Concession 3 OS  

(12) Hurst (Bates) West Part Lot 20, Concession 1 OS  

(13) Parsons East Part Lot 21, Concession 1 OS

(14) Ferguson West Part Lot 24, concession 2 OS

(15) Shrigley East Part Lot 26, Concession 10, NE

(16) Mumford West Part Lot 21, Concession 3 OS

(17) Wilson 5th Line West Part Lot 28, Concession 4 OS

(18) Irwin West Part Lot 26, Concession 1 OS

(19) Downey Barn, Lot 15, Conc 4 OS

(20) Marshall Lot 18, Conc 3 OS 

(21) Laverty, Lot 23, Conc 1 OS

(22) R. Speers, Lot 19, Conc 1 OS 

(23) P.Downey  W Pt Lot 17, Con 3 OS

(24) Brants garage East Part Lot 20, Conc 1OS

(25) Travis Pt Lot 277-278 Conc 1SW

(26) E Downey W Pt Lot 19, Conc 3 OS

(27) E. Pt. Lot 28, Concession 2 O.S.

(28) Downey Homestead Cty 124 Lot 19, Conc 2OS

(29)Lorne Dynes- W 1/2 Lot 28, Concession 4 OS (barn),

(30) Martin - Lot 9, Concession 5 NE (barn & shed),

(31) Webb - 437380 4th Line OS, Melancthon

At a public meeting on June 20, 2009 in Honeywood, Highland Companies spokesperson said these homes had been condemned and were uninsurable and had to be torn down.  The Chief Building Official for the County of Dufferin, however, has confirmed that no such orders were issued by the building department who is the only authorized authority for this type of order.   

 

If you are troubled by this continued assault on our community heritage, then please voice your concerns to your councillors as well as county and provincial representatives.  Contact information for all levels of government are available on this website.