Rare and historic terrace of Italianate townhouse, last remnant of 19th century residential architecture on the downtown stretch of Talbot Street North.

In spite of a vigorous campaign by ACO London, Camden Terrace was “deconstructed” in 2016 to be “reconstructed” inside the lobby of the original Rygar Properties highrise development, a 38-storey tower on the south side - the tallest building between Mississauga and Calgary - connected by nine-storeys in the centre to a 29-storey tower on the north side.

City Council’s decision to permit the demolition of Camden Terrace at 475-501 Talbot Street, despite strong evidence of its cultural heritage value, and to not pursue its designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act was controversial, and came only after considerable debate and discussion. The requirement for the property-owner to carefully dismantle the façade and then to reconstruct it within the lobby of the new building was a key element in Council’s eventual decision to approve the demolition and the proposed development on the property now knows as 100 Fullarton Street. 

Ron Stang, London Free Press, Jan 6, 2017.

“Part of the façade of Camden Terrace will be incorporated in the lobby of the new development's centre building. It will be framed by floor to ceiling windows that will allow it to be highly visible to passersby on the street, creating a kind of showroom effect. Two 19th century houses at 93-95 Dufferin Street on the far corner — interrupted by more contemporary buildings infilled over the years — will be included in the exterior of the north tower, looking like a 3-D puzzle block glued to the new structure.”

However:

Mike Bloxam, former Chair, ACO London Region.

“There is no guarantee of anything being preserved of Camden Terrace. The claim by Rygar (the developer) was that they would keep and catalogue the bricks. When the buildings started to come down, some bricks were saved and stacked, but no evidence of cataloguing. "Reconstruction" will likely be with replica bricks, and what will "commemorate" the buildings looks nothing like what was standing before. It's a clear case of demolition by neglect, by owners determined not to maintain the property. London City Council told Rygar to do more for heritage with a strong urging to keep the original buildings or at least, the façades. Then, reports about "contaminated soil" underneath the buildings, which turned out to be ludicrous but enough for City Council to vote for re-zoning and, two weeks later, grant a demolition permit. An OMB appeal was launched and there was a court injunction scheduled but Rygar started demolition before the injunction.” 

February 18, 2021,

ACO London Chair Kelley McKeating to Planning & Environment Committee:

“The original zoning by-law amendment application (in 2020) proposed a commemorative monument that would include eight terrace residences. The summary in the recent Public Meeting Notice states six, but the rendering shows eight. Clarification would be appreciated. Camden Terrace was made up of six terrace residences, not eight. The current zoning requires the commemorative monument to incorporate the heritage attributes of the Camden Terrace façade. The requested zoning makes no mention of “heritage attributes”. Again, clarification would be appreciated.