National Trust for Canada's Top 10 Endangered Places, 2013

18-22 King St East: William Thomas, architect, 1840s or 1850s. In Renaissance Revival Style for dry goods wholesalers Archibald and Thomas Kerr. Two of the very few pre-Confederation stone commercial buildings remaining in Hamilton.

24-28 King St East: 1870s, architect unknown.

A 7-year conservation campaign, resolved at last?
ACO and the Hamilton conservation community fought hard against proposed demolition, since demolition permits were applied for the building in December 2012. They were concerned regarding a plan for “retention” of 18-22, “development” of 24 and 28 and rebuild of #30 that was demolished in 2011.

December 15, 2016:
Proposed Gore Block Apartments, 18-30 King St. East

18-22: Retain second and third storeys of façade between broad glass storefronts and apartment entrance below, penthouse above. Replace missing half-round dormer above 18-20. “Heritage evoking” masonry at street level of 18-20, not #22.

24 and 28: Demolish and rebuild one storey higher with replacement of #30 that was demolished in 2011. Heritage architect and structural engineer for developer recommend duplication of facades of 24 and 28, “with retention of as much original material as possible.” Heritage architect and structural engineer for the City recommend conserve facades of 24 and 28.

February 1, 2018: Plan accepted by Planning Committee and Hamilton Mayor and Council.

May 4, 2018: During Conservation Review Board conference call “modifications to heritage” that would preserve facades and portions of all four buildings "were promised by solicitors for the developer.

November 2, 2018: Resolution at last? Solicitors for the developers “we have reached a successful resolution with the City of Hamilton and we are therefore withdrawing our objections under 29(15) of theOntario Heritage Act.”

April 8, 2019: Façades of 18-20, 22, 24, 28 King Street East above street level to be restored. At street level storefronts to be divided as in original buildings. 19m of original depth of Gore Buildings to be retained. (Proposed rebuild of #30 at left cancelled, space to be a patio-park).

September 24, 2021: Revised plan with final, retail storefront design by David Premi, Architect, DPAI. Presented to Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee by Heritage Consultant Megan Hobson. Approved by the committee, subject to presentation and acceptance of conservation plan, issue of building permit.

24 and 28 King Street East: Floorplates will be raised 0.18m in new build at street level, to allow for continuous floorplates behind all facades, with no overlap of windows. Appearance of facades above will not be affected.

#24 (Glassco Building): Apart from the cornice, which will be removed, restored and reinstated, too much of the original façade is lost or too deteriorated to be salvaged. It will be replaced with new brick.

#28 (Skinner Building): Shifting due to loss of support following demolition of #30 and years of water infiltration through roof and cornice require dismantling and rebuild of the façade. All original stones to be returned to their original locations.

18-20 and 22 King Street East (Kerr Buildings): Source of original masonry - most likely local Whirlpool sandstone with carved stone probably from Ohio - will be confirmed by testing, so that suitable stone may be used for repairs and restoration of the missing sill courses above the storefront. Stone columns at street level will be retained but proposed replacement of the lost masonry arched entrance to 18-20 has been abandoned. The “new” wood-framed, broad glass storefront façade will evoke that that installed c1905 at 18-20 and 22, when 18-20 was the J. Lennox leather goods store. A moulded wood cornice, beneath a demarcating cap of restored masonry will separate the retail façade from the restored original façade above - as in the Lennox rebuild. Also abandoned: plan to build apartments in the second and third storeys.
They will be for offices instead.

Arguments for not replacing lost masonry at street level include the challenge of matching stone weathered over almost 170 years with new stone, and unlikelihood of original and new stone weathering uniformly in future. Façade now proposed will also better match proposed future use, as the Lennox storefront did more than 100 years ago.

“By preserving a change that is part of the evolution of the Kerr buildings from wholesale to retail when they were only one third through their lives – so far - adoption of the retail façade will avoid creating a false sense of history.”
With thanks, Megan Hobson