The heritage designation at 166 Brock St. S will be removed.
Sarnia City Council voted to remove the designation by a vote of 7 to 2.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and Councillor Anne Marie Gillis both felt the designation should remain.
Gillis says council's decision sends a confusing message to the Sarnia Heritage Committee.
"What is the message that we send to the heritage committee, that we don't value their opinion, that we don't value our planning department or the Ontario Review Board because we feel that we have to move in a different direction," says Gillis.
"You can't have it both ways, if you want to have a really vibrant cultural policy, you have to recognize that heritage buildings are worth saving."
Last fall, the owner of the property said he couldn't keep up with repairs and wanted to sell the property to Vision Nursing and Rest Home.
That deal is no longer an option.