Niagara-on-the-Lake officials stepped in to stop illegal construction work taking place on a nearly 200-year-old former schoolhouse on the Niagara River Parkway — more penalties may be next, the town says, if the property owner doesn’t comply with its orders.
Town staff received a complaint about activity at 14785 Niagara River Pkwy., a designated property under the Ontario Heritage Act. The land is known in town records as the Larkin-Dimitrieff property and is owned by prominent developer Benny Marotta.
The town says the construction work involved the stone schoolhouse building and began without the required permits or approvals.
Municipal staff attended the site shortly after receiving the complaint and have since made other visits, photographed the property and begun co-ordinating next steps, it said in a media release on Friday.
It did not specify what kind of work took place. However, photos obtained by The Lake Report, taken from the site last Thursday and Friday, appear to show the roof being dismantled.
Under the Building Code Act, the town issued a stop-work order on Friday directing the property owner to halt all work until proper approvals are obtained. Orders were also issued requiring the building to be secured.
Municipal officials said they are working with the owner to bring the property into compliance, but warned that more enforcement action could follow if the orders are not met.
The town added the violation may also be subject to penalties under the Ontario Heritage Act. It did not say what kind of penalties it may pursue.
The Larkin-Dimitrieff property sits next to the former site of Glencairn Hall, a 19th-century home at 14795 Niagara River Pkwy. The home burned down last April in a fire police are investigating as criminal arson.
A 2011 document from the Town of NOTL states the schoolhouse was “probably” built in the 1830s for the estate workers of Glencairn Hall’s then-owner, entrepreneur John Hamilton.
Last August, the town’s committee of adjustment approved plans to bring together a half-acre portion of the Glencairn Hall property with the Larkin-Dimitrieff property, which Marotta owns.
In its media statement, the municipality said it remains committed to protecting heritage resources and takes unauthorized alterations seriously.
“Our built heritage is a defining part of our community’s identity,” the town said.
Officials said they will continue to monitor the property.
