Talbot block damaged but expected to survive

London firefighters pour water on the rear of a building at 381 Talbot St., part of the historic Talbot streetscape. The three-hour blaze heavily damaged part of the structure.

A weekend fire that heavily damaged the rear of a building in London’s Talbot streetscape won’t prove fatal to efforts to save the historic block, say Deputy Mayor Jack Burghardt and George Sinclair, a spokesman for Talbot Coalition, a citizen’s group fighting to save the buildings.

“It’s a setback – but people shouldn’t give up on it just yet,” said Sinclair Burghardt, who supports saving the block, said the fire “doesn’t help the situation… but I wouldn’t call if a final blow.”

Firefighters from five stations spent almost three hours Saturday battling the blaze that started about 5:30 p.m. at 381 Talbot St., the former McNamara’s Cleaners. The building has been vacant for several years.

Cause of the fire is not known.

Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd., which owns the streetscape comprise of late 19th-century buildings, wants to build an office-retail-hotel complex on the block bounded by Talbot, Dundas, Kind and Ridout streets.

Sinclair said he doesn’t expect the fire to be a factor in tonight’s city planning meeting at which bylaws, designed to protect the block will be discussed. He said the fire caused damage to the rear and the Talbot Coalition is mainly concerned with preserving the front.

Cambridge lawyer John Judson said he doesn’t see the fire as affecting the situation. “There would be the same problems with restoration as there always have Historic block damaged but is expected to survive From page A1 Been.” He said Cambridge will increase security around the streetscape and remove any fire hazards.he said furniture has been store in some of the buildings.

Judson said he was told by fire department officials that vandals or vagrants ma have caused the blaze. But fire inspector John McCarthy refused to say Sunday whether arson is a factor. McCarty said he couldn’t estimate the loss because the building was no longer in used. “If there has been a business in it, and businesses on either side, then $700,000 would be accurate.”

The Talbot streetscape, comprised of late 19th-century buildings, has been a political battleground for more than five years. It’s the eastern boundary of a block slated for a $400-million retail-hotel-office-condominium complex by Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd. The Talbot Coalition argues the streetscape is the last unbroken block of Victorian-era architecture in London and could be integrated into the proposed Cambridge development. Over the last few years, most buildings have been evacuated and last fall Cambridge won a major victory which appeared to clear the way for the landscapes demolition. But there has been talk of an Ontario Municipal Board challenge and London council has made other moves which could save the streetscape. Susan Balyk/The London Free Press

Firefighters had difficulty fighting the fire but were able to keep it from spreading to the rest of the Victorian streetscape.

“It was a stubborn one,” said Assistant Deputy Fire Chief Jim Fitzgerald. “It had a good head start on us before we got there.” He said firefighters worked through the night putting out small fire in the three-storey building. The walls were still standing with most of the damage inside.

Smoke attracted a crow of several hundred people who watched as five-meter-high (16-foot-high) flames rose off the roof. There was almost a party atmosphere as people took photographs and a King Street restaurateur served free coffee.

“It’s cold out and I think these people deserve a cup of coffee on a sad day when one of our historic buildings is burning down,” said George Vacval, owner of the European Cafe.

Some were less saddened. “It’s better than watching the Leafs,” said Mike Bennett.

Source: London Free Press