The Village of Portsmouth in Kingston is the target of even more residential construction.

    New housing will be built on the grounds of a former Church, the Church of the Good Thief in Portsmouth Village. Obviously trees will have to be cut down to accommodate the project.   
The Church of the Good Thief was built in the year 1894 by inmates from the Kingston Penitentiary; limestone was used in the construction.

When is the Village of Portsmouth going to be designated a Province of Ontario Heritage Conservation District and a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport website:
Heritage Conservation
"Part V of the Ontario Conservation Act gives municipalities the ability to designate Heritage Conservation Districts. Districts are  areas whose cultural heritage value constributes to a sense of space extending beyond their individual buildings, structures and landscapes."

"The immediate benefit of HCD designation is a planning process that respects a communities history and identity." (Page 10/50).

The former Catholic Church of the Good Thief. 

There are now three Heritage Conservation Districts in Kingston, Ontario:
1.) Barriefield Village
2.) Market Square
3.) Old Sydenham
The following phrases apply to the City of Kingston:
The Limestone City
National Historic Site of Canada - KP and surrounding buildings are National Historic Sites.
scorched earth policy - a policy enacted during times of war, when a conquering army deliberately destroyed anything of architectural value or historic beauty in a besieged town or city. Do not destroy or alter KP and the Prison for Women.
historic landmarks - the landmarks are famous all over the world.
protected views - of a scenic vista, lake, river or ocean. Views will be blocked by high rises.
quality of life - the tangible and intangible qualities that make a town or village livable---a stable population; clean air and water; trees and vegetation; and roads that are not bombarded with vehicles.
public property - the Kingston Pen, Prison for Women, Fisheries and Oceans Canada land at the Olympic Harbour and the Corrections Canada complex at on King Street West were public property.
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The Hon. Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, said the people of Kingston have the right to decide the future of the Penitentiary:

     "What happens to that site, in my opinion, really should be up to the residents of Kingston, considering the fact that it is federal property". (From: Q and A with Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen - Ian MacAlpine, Whig- Standard February 7 2016.)