So many heritage homes, yet so little money.
News that time is running out for the Kittson House, that stately structure on Ladner Trunk Road near the Highway 99 interchange, is disappointing but not terribly surprising. The price tag to restore one of Delta's old beauties is prohibitive, costing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, so it takes someone, or some group, that not only has passion for the undertaking but also has deep enough pockets to make it a reality.
That combination can be difficult to find, which is why, unfortunately, that yellow landmark thousands drive by on a daily basis could soon become a pile of rubble.
There have been a few heritage structures - the Kirkland and Cammidge houses as well as the Harris Barn - that have found saviours, but there have been others - the Smith residence at the entrance to Tsawwassen and the Friesen residence on Trunk Road in East Ladner are two recent ones that come to mind - that weren't as lucky.
The previous owner of the Kirkland House applied for a demolition permit when the century-old Arthur Drive home fell into disrepair, prompting volunteers to step in and save the day by forming the Kirkland House Foundation. That was more than 20 years ago, and while they've done a tremendous job with their restoration efforts, they're still ongoing, demonstrating the time and money that's needed to bring one of these homes back to its original glory.
Delta managed to expedite the relocation and restoration of the Harris Barn, which now sits adjacent to the Kirkland House, but not everyone has access to that kind of cash. And not even government has an endless supply of money, which is why members of Delta's Heritage Advisory Commission continue to search for a Kittson House champion.
It's been well over a year since the new owners applied for a demolition permit, yet no one from the community or beyond has stepped forward to save the home built by pioneer Robert Kittson back in 1907. The greenhouse operator that now owns the site has been patiently waiting to see if there will be any takers, but the wrecking ball can only be held at bay for so long.
Unless a saviour materializes at the 11th hour, which doesn't seem likely at this point, the Kittson House will, unfortunately, soon be just a memory. As much as we'd like to preserve it and others throughout the municipality, there are simply more historic structures than there is the wherewithal to save them.
