Hartrick House Ajax supporters are stepping up efforts to save the 174-year-old property after residents rallied outside Ajax Town Hall and submitted a petition asking council to pause demolition plans and complete a formal heritage assessment.
More than 30 residents gathered at town hall on Aug. 5 to call for the preservation of Hartrick House, located at 120 Roberson Dr.
The property was built in 1852, making it older than Canada as a country.
Residents say that history alone warrants a more thorough review before any irreversible decision is made.
Petition Draws 300 Signatures
The community group advocating for the property submitted a petition to the town clerk requesting further council consideration.
According to the Town of Ajax, the petition received 300 signatures and is expected to appear as correspondence on the Sept. 21 council meeting agenda.
Residents are asking council to publicly receive advice from several municipal departments and advisory bodies before demolition proceeds.
Their requests include input from the town’s heritage planner, planning services, legislative services and heritage advisory committee.
They are also asking for a complete cultural heritage evaluation report, or CHER.
Residents Want Formal Heritage Assessment
Supporters argue that Hartrick House should receive the same heritage-review process applied to other non-designated properties.
The property appears on Ajax’s inventory of non-designated heritage properties.
Residents say that designation should trigger a fair evaluation before demolition or redevelopment is allowed to proceed.
Ajax resident Doug Glass argued that other heritage properties received independent assessments between 2024 and 2026 while Hartrick House did not.
He questioned why a building dating back to the 1850s had not received the same level of review.
Town Says Council Knew Building’s Status
The Town of Ajax said council was aware of the property’s heritage status when it made earlier decisions.
The town said no recommendation was made to carry out a cultural heritage assessment before the property was declared surplus in 2025.
Hartrick House has been owned by the town since 1995.
It was declared surplus land in May 2025, and council later finalized an agreement to sell the property to a private developer.
That decision has become the focus of the current community opposition.
Residents Say Demolition Would Be Irreversible
Residents say the sale and rezoning process moved forward without enough public consultation.
They argue that once Hartrick House is demolished, the historical value of the structure cannot be recovered.
Their petition asks council to consider issuing a notice of intent to designate the property if the cultural heritage evaluation confirms it qualifies.
Supporters want demolition paused until that process is complete.
Fundraiser Launched for Independent Review
Members of the Save The Hartrick House campaign have also launched a fundraiser to pay for an independent heritage assessment.
Zainul Abedin and Stephen Sullivan are among those involved.
The group has raised roughly $2,000 and says the full cost of an independent review could exceed $10,000.
They are seeking additional funding from the town.
Consultant Memo Supports Heritage Argument
Abedin said the group has engaged Stantec Consulting.
According to the supplied report, Stantec issued a memo indicating the property meets the threshold of a heritage site.
That finding has strengthened the group’s argument that Hartrick House deserves formal protection or, at minimum, a complete heritage review before demolition.
The town’s response to that specific consultant finding was not detailed in the supplied article.
Hartrick House Served Community Functions
Residents say the value of Hartrick House Ajax goes beyond its age.
The property previously housed the Kinsmen Heritage Centre and was used for public meetings, voting and social events.
Community members also remember weddings, birthdays and other gatherings taking place there.
Supporters argue those uses make the site part of Ajax’s social history as well as its architectural heritage.
Residents Describe Emotional Connection
Several residents spoke about personal connections to the property.
Grade 10 student Zunairah Arsheen said she used the area to spend time with her brother and enjoy nature.
She questioned the logic of replacing the site with low-density housing given the level of community opposition.
Longtime resident Catherine Perruzza described the house as a connection to the community’s past and said losing it would mean losing another piece of local history.
Town Has Cited Operating Costs
Ajax has also pointed to the cost of maintaining the property.
The town said it lost $82,457.63 between 2021 and Nov. 30, 2023 in operating costs.
That figure did not include maintenance or capital repairs.
The financial burden has been part of the broader context surrounding the town’s decision to declare the site surplus.
Sept. 21 Council Meeting Becomes Next Key Date
The next major step in the Hartrick House Ajax debate is expected at the Sept. 21 council meeting, when the 300-signature petition is scheduled to appear on the agenda.
Residents want council to pause demolition, complete a cultural heritage assessment and consider formal designation if the property qualifies.
The town, meanwhile, has already moved through surplus-land and sale decisions.
That sets up a significant local debate over heritage preservation, development and the future of one of Ajax’s oldest surviving properties.
