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FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015
See Page 5
Date with the wrecking ball
Unsuccessful efforts to save the Kittson House highlight struggle to preserve heritage structures it’s not on Delta’s heritage register. Being on that provides greater protection for historic structures, but it’s primarily voluntarily for These are the final days for the property owners that agree to the historic Kittson House. special designation in exchange A demolition permit has been for zoning or other incentives. issued for the once-grand home Citizens’ groups from time to on Ladner Trunk Road that’s come time come together to symbolize the difficuland have managed to ty the municipality still save some of Delta’s faces in saving prominent heritage homes from heritage structures. the wrecking ball, but Sunny Bay nobody came forward Greenhouses Ltd. now for the Kittson House, owns the property and perhaps due to reports constructed a hothouse it would cost hunon the site near the interdreds of thousands to change of highways 10 Coun. Jeannie restore. The home has and 99 over a year ago, Kanakos major structural issues but agreed not to tear and the cost to move it down the yellow house would be just as prohibitive. fronting the property, giving the Delta pioneer Robert Kittson municipality time to seek alternabuilt a barn at the site in 1895 and tives. the house in 1907, according to The house is listed as having the Delta Museum and Archives. a high heritage value on Delta’s Kittson ran a mixed farming heritage inventory, but that offers operation on the site and was also little as far as protection. active in community affairs, servDelta’s heritage advisory ing on the Delta council, includcommission, which managed to ing a term as reeve (mayor) in retrieve materials from the house 1904-05. last month, looked at various ideas to save the house, which has See KITTSON page 3 fallen into extreme disrepair, but BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
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PHOTO BY
ARLIE PIPERNI
Robert Kittson’s great grandson, Mike Kittson, is shown in front of the historic residence with his children, Rhys (in arms) and Riley. The century-old home is slated for demolition.
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