Dear friends, what a sad and shocking sight today, as workers removed plastic from the windows of 1245 Edward. Under the guise of “asbestos abatement,” Dalhousie University has totally gutted the interior of the home to the wooden studs. There are no walls remaining. Pipes are visible throughout and the beautiful hardwood floors appear to be wrecked. 

As huge dumpster upon huge dumpster was filled and taken away, neighbours wondered how much asbestos there could possibly be in the 125-year-old structure. Now we know. No wonder preserving the original doors wasn’t a priority; there are no doorframes to hang them from. 

The house is again unheated and without electricity. Shame on Dal for its treatment of our built heritage, as students are scrambling for housing. A freedom of information request to find out how much they spent on this summer of destruction is in order. They have definitely demonstrated with this interior demolition how little they care for public response, including the more than 6,000 of you who have asked them to save this heritage property. 

Keep writing to the Board of Governors protesting this destruction of a gorgeous home, and let our City Council know that you support the heritage designation.