Why this historic London farmhouse might have an industrial future

An old farmhouse in southeast London could become part of a new industrial subdivision after a committee endorsed recommendations to grant it heritage protection.

On Tuesday, the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) considered a developer’s request to demolish all nine buildings on the farm at 1361 Wilton Grove Rd. in preparation for an industrial subdivision with 16 blocks and some greenspace.

However, city staff recommend heritage designation for one of the buildings— the farmhouse built in 1911.

A staff report reads, “The Laidlaw family and the Croslea farm are significant to local agricultural history, having owned and operated on the property for over 180 years.”

The Community Advisory Committee on Planning agrees with the staff recommendation.

Chair Jean-Marc Metrailler telling councillors on PEC, “We didn't really hear much from the applicant or the owner about why it was impeding the development other than the building was derelict and, causing some problems in that respect. Nothing about why it couldn't be incorporated into the new development.”

In fact, the staff report included photographs of heritage homes that remain part of industrial subdivisions in other Ontario cities.

A large Canadian Tire warehouse is located adjacent to a restored home at 10394 Hurontario St. in Brampton.

A heritage home located at 10394 Hurontario St. in Brampton (Source: City of London)

In Markham, a heritage home at 1134 Plains Rd. E. is completely surrounded by large industrial properties.

Local heritage advocate Maggie Whalley told the committee, “I feel that we lose our agricultural heritage, which is in fact the foundation of our city, too easily and too casually.

The Laidlaw family has been associated with the Wilton Grove area since 1832, George Wallace Laidlaw was inducted into the Canadian Seed Grower’s Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Middlesex County Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2001 for dedicating his life to the production of pedigreed seed.

Councillor Steve Lehman told colleagues on PEC he was impressed by the cultural heritage of the Laidlaw and Croslea Farm, “We don't know the gems we have, in our city until we sometimes have this type of application before us.”

A heritage home located at 1134 Plains Rd. E. in Markham (Source: City of London)

The developer did not attend the PEC meeting.

Committee members unanimously recommended heritage designation for the old farmhouse and granted demolition permits for the other eight buildings.

“It's a difficult balancing act every time [we’re] trying to find a balance between our heritage and our future, and I feel this is a very good compromise,” said Councillor Steve Hillier who represents the area.

Council will make a final decision about the heritage designation and demolition permits on January 21.