Visit the corner of Victoria and Prideaux in Old Town.

There stands a stately clapboard heritage home, likely the most spectacular real estate flip in NOTL, the work of one of our prominent power couples. Now asking $3.85 million. So gilded is it that some locals dub the place, at 94 Prideaux,  “Versailles.”

As you stare from the sidewalk up to the gables of the second storey soaring overhead, turn and look up Victoria toward the main drag.

Now imagine, one property away, the flat industrial roofline of a new building twice the height of the mansion. That’s right, the height of another Versailles stacked atop Versailles.

Also picture the removal of the heritage property behind the BMO branch. And the double garage beside that. Plus the Victorian-motif house next door.

In their stead, a hulking monolith structure, a two-metre-high fence, a driveway for large trucks, loading docks, industrial garbage bins plus a long pedestrian accessibility ramp.

All this will be one face of the biggest, tallest structure in the downtown. It will tower 61 feet (18.8 metres) over Victoria Street.

In all, four heritage buildings will be offed. The iconic Queen streetscape will be forever altered, the 120-year-old Royal George erased, trees sacrificed and apparently you have nothing to say about it.

Thanks to the Shaw Festival and a provincial government with a build, baby, build fetish, NOTL’s transformation from an authentic heritage oasis to a theme park with a historic vibe continues. In fact, it’s hitting overdrive.

Seems few people living in, or caring about, the ancient beating heart of this place are aware of the Shaw Festival’s plan to erect a $110-million, hulking box with a façade stuck on the front.

Yes, we all know the tired Royal George has an underwear problem. Most folks have heard it needs renovating. And a lot are aware the Ford government ponied up $35 million in public funds to pay for it.

But the Shaw guys have other plans. When done, they’ll own the place.

“I saw the notice the town sent around,” says a longtime owner around the corner. “But nowhere did it say anything about a project this massive, or what it might do to the streetscape.”

Indeed. The stunning details are contained online, not in the flyer. More was unveiled at a public meeting earlier this week. Thus far media coverage focused on the premier making good on his pre-election promise of largesse.

The festival itself has kept its message low-key and reassuring.

“The transformed Royal George will try to maintain the unique heritage character of Queen Street, and we will aim for it to be North America’s first carbon-neutral and Rick Hansen Gold Certified performing arts centre, offering unparalleled levels of accessibility. This will require a larger footprint but will ensure we can continue to deliver the style of classic theatre on which our reputation rests, in ways that will meet the needs of the audiences and workers of tomorrow.”

Silent is the way this project will actually chew up an entire half-block, darken the sun with its height, insert a Milton-style industrial building in the heritage core and involve years of heavy construction.

What about safeguards? The heritage cops? Zoning? In a town where you can’t replace your porch without a hassle, how the hell did this slip through?

Well, council exempted Shaw from restrictions contained in its expanded heritage zone. No public hearing on that.

The town cites provincial legislation as essentially forcing the project to be greenlit. “Note that third party appeals are restricted for this application as per Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024,” says its notice to residents.

“Planning Act appeals may be filed by the applicant, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, a “specified person” [utilities], and any public body.”

But not you. Surprise.