Last call for historic Kent Brewery building?

A heritage battle to spare a founding brewery is expected to bubble over at London city hall next week. CTV's Daryl Newcombe explains.

A heritage battle that’s been brewing near Richmond Row will come to a head next week when the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) considers a demolition request for the former Kent Brewery and Brewmaster’s House.

In 2022, City Council voted to grant heritage designations to the brewery building (1859) and adjacent house (1893).

However, the designations have been under appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Now a staff report going to PEC recommends consenting to the demolition of the buildings, and some neighbouring houses, to permit construction of a previously approved 23-storey residential high rise on the site.

Before demolishing the buildings, York Developments would be required to carefully remove some historic architectural elements and prioritize their reuse along with some commemorative signage.

“I don’t think that’s how you preserve heritage today,” says Anna Maria Valastro of the North Talbot Neighbourhood Association.

Valastro believes the heritage buildings should remain intact and incorporated into any future redevelopment of the site.

“The way they’re preserving the heritage is undignified of the Kent Brewery,” she told CTV News. “The Kent Brewery is one of only two left in Canada where the brewmaster lived next to their brewery, which was commonplace in the 19th century.”

A Heritage Impact Assessment submitted by York Developments concludes that retaining the brewery and brewmaster’s house is, “not feasible due to the size and density required for the proposed development to be economically viable.”

Ali Soufan, president of York Developments, told CTV News that a craft brewery inside the new building will incorporate salvaged materials and honour the history of the property.

“We think that this will actually commemorate the heritage component of what was there in years past and bring that back to life within the existing building,” Soufan said.

Valastro is not convinced, “It’s utterly meaningless. It’s such an insult. I’m so offended by the way the city thinks this is going to celebrate the history of London.”

The new high rise is described as a student-oriented building that would include resort-style amenities and concierge services.

Demolition of the existing buildings would clear the way for redevelopment to begin in a matter of months.

“The buildings (would be demolished) over the course of the summer and fall, and if all goes well, we’d start construction in early spring of 2026,” Soufan explained.

Valastro acknowledged that the staff report was reviewed and recommended by top brass within city hall’s planning department, but wants to know if the city’s heritage planners were in agreement with the recommendation.

“To me, it just feels like it’s being rubber stamped,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like it was a thoughtful process, and it was just intended to appease York Developments and not take our heritage seriously.”

The Planning and Environment Committee will consider the demolition request on May 21.