Kitchener rejects independent review of Mayfair demolition

Kitchener city council rejected a motion made on Monday nightby a community advocacy group to do an independent review of the city's decision to demolish the former MayfairHotel and Hymmen Hardware buildings.

A group of citizens requested the reviewand gave council a list of 25 questions oneverything from access to official reports to the environmental impact of the demolition. The request was rejected by a vote of 7 to 2.

The Mayfair was declared unsafe based on a review byMike Seiling, the city's chiefbuilding official,as well as reports by two independent structural engineers. Demolition began on May 19and, while the buildings have been torn down, work continues on the site at the corner of Young Street and King Street in downtown Kitchener.

Why review was rejected

According to a release from the City of Kitchener, the motion to review the demolition decisionwas rejected because the city has provided "ongoing and extensive transparency"on the issue and an inquiry would require"continued financial investment and staff resources to accommodate."

In the release, thecity listed the many ways it had provided information to citizens, including the creation of awebpage on the city's officialwebsitewhere information is stored and updated.

The city also said that, together with Heritage Kitchener, it was reviewing the current heritage processes and wouldreport to city council on the best ways to preserve heritage buildings in the future.

Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealockput forward a revised motion that asked city staff "to answer all questions possible."Thatmotion passed 5 to4 and the responses will be posted on the city's Mayfair webpage within the next two weeks..