Lane closures downtown as Burlington heritage building absorbed into a condo

It will be a short trip but a Burlington heritage building will soon return home.

Well, at least a part of the building.

The move will see northbound lanes on Pearl Street between Lakeshore Road and Pine Street downtown shut down for three weeks starting today (Oct. 7). Southbound lane will stay open.

The moving structure is known as Acland House which is on the city’s heritage roster, but it is just the façade that is being preserved. It will be incorporated into the design of a 29-storey condo rising at the site.

According to Burlington’s planning department, Acland House — actually two joined houses — was moved slightly from its original location at 383-385 Pearl Street to accommodate construction of the high-rise which takes up a large portion of the block. It’s now being moved back to its first location which will be known as 2069-2079 Lakeshore Road and 383-385 Pearl Street.

Built in 1880 by the Acland family who had immigrated from Scotland, they designed the semi-detached homes in the style of housing in their homeland and were used as rental properties in Burlington.

Acland House is considered to be historically significant because of its unique, rowhouse design and is known as a local landmark. Still, only the façade was deemed worthy of saving following drawn-out discussions over the size and scope of the project that the Ontario Land Tribunal (the agency that adjudicates land and building disputes) ultimately settled.

Once completed, the condo will contain 318 residential units with stores on the ground floor.