The city of Sault Ste. Marie has awarded a 40 percent property tax rebate to Essar Steel Algoma Inc. for a company-owned residence at 1048 Queen Street East.
The stately manor was built at the turn of the century by Sir William Howard Hearst, a local lawyer who served as Ontario's seventh premier.
Over the years, it's also been the residence of well-known Saultites including broadcast pioneer Grant Hyland, Ontario Provincal Air Service founder Roy Maxwell, Ontario Minister of Public Works Colin Campbell and executives of Lake Superior Paper Co.
The two-storey Edwardian home, built from red brick and local red sandstone, was one of 15 properties granted heritage rebates on their 2014 property taxes at the most recent meeting of City Council.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie is the largest local creditor in Essar Steel Algoma's ongoing Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings, owed $14 million in taxes by the troubled steelmaker.
Here's the full list of properties granted rebates by the city:
875 Queen Street
Forest Insect Laboratory
Owned by 1022291 Ontario Ltd.
69 Church Street
Air Service Hangar
Owned by 1022291 Ontario Ltd.
10 Kensington Terrace, Unit #1
Upton House
Owned by Dawn MacPhee
10 Kensington Terrace, Unit #2
Upton House
Owned by Margaret Keenan
10 Kensington Terrace, Unit #3
Upton House
Owned by Domenic and Brenda DiSisto in 2013
193 Pim Street
Wellington Square Townhouses
Owned by Mark Coleman
189 Pim Street
Wellington Square Townhouses
Owned by Jacques Potvin and Joanne Zeppa
191 Pim Street
Wellington Square Townhouses
Owned by Greg and Patricia Vaughan
115 Upton Road
1902 Family Residence
Owned by Dr. T. Best and Dr. M. Leahy
242- 246 Queen Street East
Hussey Block
Owned by W. M. Watts Investments Limited
864 Queen St. East
Algonquin Hotel
Owned by Martin Fiser
1048 Queen Street East
Eastbourne Manor
Owned by Essar Steel Algoma Inc.
358–356 Queen Street
Barnes/ Fawcett Block
Owned by Sault Financial (Corp) Limited
143 McGregor Avenue
McLeod Family Residence
Owned by Jacob and Sarah St. Amour
1164 Queen St. East
Private residence
Owned by Cindy Parniak
Combined tax rebates for the 15 properties are expected to total around $70,000.
The city allows homeowners to apply for property tax rebates to encourage restoration and preservation of unique heritage assets.
Owners participating in the heritage property tax rebate program must re-apply each year, indicating what work will be done to maintain the property.
Members of the Sault Ste. Marie municipal heritage committee and city building Inspectors conduct annual inspections to make sure maintenance plans are being followed.
Known as Eastbourne Manor, 1048 Queen Street East was described by architectural historian John Blumenson as being notable for its “unadorned surfaces and simple wood treatment as expressed in the grouping of short verandah columns, cantilevered cornice brackets and plain brick walls are popular in the domestic version of Edwardian Classicism.”
For much of the current millennium, the house has served as a bed and breakfast.
Advertisements for the bed and breakfast describe the home as having three guest rooms with a "cozy" sitting room with fireplace.
"Relax in the formal Victorian dining room for breakfast and then retire with coffee to the front veranda or to the back garden terrace," said one online ad.
"The front veranda is supported by white pillars which enables a beautiful panoramic of the St. Marys River through a hedge-trimmed walkway. The rear garden terrace remains a sight to see, as the patio surrounds an apple tree. The patio gives way to a sandstone walkway which is parted by a fountain and a waterfall; both lit for evening enjoyment. Flowers encompass both sides of the sandstone walkway which lead through an arbour to take in the view of the front rock garden."
At the rear of the property, a carriage house faces Upton Road.
There are a number of homes in the neighbourhood of similar appearance and age.
Earlier this year, City Council asked city staff to look into the possibility of designating formal heritage conservation districts.
Last month, councillors decided against that idea, deciding that it would be too expensive, hard to implement and too restrictive to property owners.
Property owners within a heritage district must get special permits before building, demolishing or altering any building.