A 19th-century cannon that withstood the siege of Sebastopol during
the Crimean War has become the centrepiece of a battle
between a developer and the city of Hamilton.
Angelo Riccio, of Brampton-based Varcon Construction Co., says the Russian
cannon, which stood guard front of the Royal Hamilton Military
Institute for three decades, belongs to him.
The city, however, says the cannon belongs to the citizens
of Hamilton, and Ward 2 Councillor Andrea Horwath is talking
about speaking to lawyers.
"They knew it was our property," Horwath said yesterday at
a special meeting of the city's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory
Committee (LACAC).
The cannon was removed Saturday from the Robinson and Park
streets landmark, which Riccio started tearing down last week ahead
of city efforts to try to designate it a heritage
building.
Riccio -- who was granted a demolition permit from the
city two weeks ago -- said yesterday he removed the
cannon and placed it in storage for safekeeping after receiving
calls about it last week. He said he has no
intention of selling it, but he wants the cannon to
be displayed on the property again if and when it's
developed, as a reminder of the site's military heritage.
"I want the city to show me proof of ownership,"
Riccio said. "It came with the property."
Source.
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