You're right that most of them aren't very dilapidated. Over 75% are marked as "FAIR", "GOOD" or better by the city's own assessment documents detailing the conditions of the buildings.
In way of an update, the buildings are not down yet but likely will be start demolition next week. We had a quickly-organized protest last week, about 60 people out, some decent press coverage. There has been some massive backlash from the city, with one of our organizers threatened with legal action by the city, and the city also trying to worm personal details of who was making complaints to the province about the city's handling of this. (The province asked the city to provide environmental, heritage, and archaeological assessments before any site disturbance. The city proceeded with gutting the buildings while doing an environmental assessment, which was supposed to have gone to the province this week. No word on heritage or arch. assessments. I doubt they will do them. The evidence would be too damning. They will provide something and then proceed and hope the province will not be bold enough to step in.)
http://www.brantnews.com/news.cfm?pa...articleId=7232
Brantford’s general manager of engineering has said the demolition of the 41 properties on the south side of Colborne Street could begin as soon as Mar. 22.
Despite the looming wrecking ball, the city’s heritage advisory committee will still go to council that same night to seek designation for all 41 properties.
“We have to continue advocating for heritage because that’s what we do,” chair Jack Jackowetz said.
He has no illusions about a change of heart by city council on Monday, but doesn’t want to write the buildings off just yet.
“Until the buildings come down, it’s not over,” he said.
Jackowetz said if the buildings do come down, people would miss them.
“It’s going to be such a drastic change to the fabric of the community,” he said. “Harmony Square won’t be a square any more. Just imagine driving down Colborne Street without any of those buildings on the right.”
Coun. Dan McCreary will be supporting the motion on Monday, but said it will fail by the same 6-5 vote.
“There are so many reasons to slow things down,” he said. “I think this motion represents exactly what a lot of people in the community feel, but I have no doubt about what the outcome will be.”