Condition of heritage house at 87 Symmes Street is cause for concern in Aylmer

Drazen Seslija

The deteriorating condition of the heritage building located at 87 Symmes Street in the Aylmer area is causing serious concern. Aylmer District City Councillor Vincent Roy says he is particularly concerned about the situation and is calling for swift action to preserve this piece of local heritage.

According to the elected official, the alleged neglect by the building’s owner is concerning. “The neglect shown by the owner of 87 Symmes is unacceptable and shameful,” Roy stated.

Councillor Roy has also pledged to do everything in his power to rectify the situation and support Aylmer’s historical heritage. He believes that protecting built heritage is a collective responsibility. He notes that historic buildings represent a legacy bequeathed by previous generations and must be preserved for future generations.

“We all have a responsibility to care for the heritage our ancestors have left us so that we can pass it on to future generations. This is true for the City, but it is also true for private property owners,” he stressed.

Considering the building’s deterioration, Roy stated that he had met with the management of the City of Gatineau’s Urban Planning Department to request that all possible legal steps be taken to compel the completion of work aimed at protecting the building.

According to him, the city appears ready to act. Roy states that he has observed a willingness to intervene on the part of the Chair of the Urban Planning Advisory Committee Caroline Murray, as well as the teams at the Urban Planning Department.

“I sensed a sincere desire to act quickly by prioritizing short-term measures that will protect 87 Symmes and rectify the situation before it’s too late,” he said.

Aylmer Residents Sound the Alarm

According to Bianca Baldo, president of the Aylmer Village Residents Association (ARVA), the situation is deeply alarming. “We’ve been dealing with issues related to this neglected heritage home for about eight years – well before I took office with the Association,” she said. “The house is in deplorable condition; the back door is broken, and there has been water damage recently. ARVA and concerned neighbourhood residents have written several letters, taken photos, alerted city officials, and created a poster to draw attention to this shared heritage property.” The poster in question is part of a broader sign campaign, in which residents have painted signs on topics important to the community: road safety, children playing, urban forests, and “Save Me! – 87 Symmes Street.” It is a heritage home at least 125 years old, and the citizens of Aylmer want to preserve it.

This is a shared asset for the Aylmer community. The house is falling apart; if we let another year go by without taking concrete action, the house will be lost for good. We’ve tried everything within our means, and no one knows what else to do at this point; the situation has become critical, and we cannot accept that. If we wait too long, it will be too late. “We need to take drastic measures starting now,” Bianca told the Bulletin.

The situation regarding this heritage house therefore continues to draw the attention of many citizens concerned with preserving the heritage of the Aylmer community. It now remains to be seen what measures will be implemented to ensure the preservation of this historic building.

In addition, the Bulletin attempted to contact the owner and her associates to hear her side of the story but was unsuccessful.