Demolition of most of the Kingston Penitentiary

The walls at the Prison for Women, pictured here, were destroyed and at least 5 buildings. Now they are going to do the same at the Kingston Pen, located directly across the street.

THE GUARD TOWERS, WALLS AND HERITAGE BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED, TO FACILITATE A MASSIVE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Kingston Penitentiary will be "comprehensively redeveloped":
Page 16- Repurpose and Residential (Central)

"Elements of the southern cruciform (workshops) should be conserved and adaptively re-used for commercial and/or residential purposes. The West Workshop is an important heritage building, however in considering future redevelopment opportunities, it may be necessary to substantially alter or remove this building. The guard tower is also an important heritage building that should retained into new development if possible. The rest of the wall in this area may be considered for demolition.

Residential (South)

While this area is supportive of the heritage value of the former penitentiary, it is considered the least important with respect to retention and adaptive re-use of existing structures. The guard tower, and potentially some elements of their adjacent walls, should be retained and integrated into new development if possible.
Other portions of the southern cruciform building may be removed to facilitate new development
The lake and harbour are not visible from within the former penitentiary. In order to create a residential community that is open, accessible and connected to the waterfront, removal of the walls and many of the existing buildings is required in the southern part of the former penitentiary.
 "Portsmouth Visioning - Former Kingston Penitentiary and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour" 
Most of the former Kingston Penitentiary will be comprised of new housing. I can understand why the walls, guard towers and heritage buildings have to be removed. There has to be room for the:
25-storey condominium towers 
four-storey townhouses
stacked townhouses
New roads that connect with adjacent public roads will be built. and large parking lots will be created.

According to documents, the City of Kingston planned to designate Portsmouth Village a Heritage Conservation District.Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved the City of Kingston Official Plan (2010).

Section 7 of the City of Kingston Official Plan- Cultural Heritage Resources (2010): The City will use all measures possible to protect its "significant cultural resources" which includes the Kingston Penitentiary and Rockwood Asylum.
_________________________________________________________________
June 30, 2018
 The Kingston Penitentiary and Prison for Women are national landmarks, and they should be untouchable.
Kingston is called The Limestone City because many of its public buildings and landmarks were built with limestone.  The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, created from limestone and granite, is 4,000 years old.
Limestone Buildings in Kingston, Ontario
The Kingston Penitentiary
Prison for Women
Frontenac County Courthouse
Fort Henry
The Martello Towers
Royal Military College
Kingston General Hospital
Rockwood Psychiatric Hospital
Kingston City Hall
Queen's University
The Armoury
Sisters of the Providence of St. Vincent de Paul - 1200 Princess Street

Prison for Women (Wikipedia photo)