After years of debate and failed attempts to preserve it, the historic house at 100 Stanley St. is set to be demolished to make way for road-widening on Wharncliffe Road. The property, once belonging to former teacher Nan Finlayson, known for her efforts to save the house, features Queen Anne style architecture and is located at the junction of Wharncliffe Road and Stanley Street near Horton Street and a rail underpass.
Despite Finlayson’s 30-year residency in the home and her plea to save it, the decision to demolish was made due to the need for underpass upgrades and widening of Wharncliffe Road as part of a $51 million project. City officials deemed it necessary to acquire the land, leading to the unsuccessful battle to preserve the house in 2020.
During a recent city council meeting, Coun. David Ferreira attempted to sway his colleagues to explore alternative solutions to preserve the house or potentially sell it to offset costs. However, Kelly Scherr, deputy city manager and city engineer, expressed that retaining the house would not be feasible or safe for future use during the necessary construction work.
Following the city’s purchase of the property, the construction project, initially slated to begin in 2021, has faced delays and was not included in the city’s multi-year budget plan for 2024-2027. The house will be salvaged for heritage items and reusable materials before the demolition takes place, as confirmed during the council meeting.