Ramara council heard what the community wants to do with two buildings on Highway 12 in Brechin, known as St. Andrew’s Hall and the former Standard Bank.

Community engagement took place between October and November. It included various online and in-person ways to convey preferences.

“Respondents expressed interest in community-focused use of the properties. There was also a clear recognition of the buildings’ heritage and symbolic value for the community,” Melissa Gowanlock, Ramara’s manager of communications and community experience, said at a Feb. 23 meeting.

It was a close call between two choices; 26.4 per cent of respondents preferred to move and renovate the buildings, while 24.9 per cent wanted to see them demoloished.

“At the same time, participants consistently emphasize the need for fiscal caution,” said Gowanlock.

Township staff created a report comparing different actions council could choose to take:

• Demolition and cleanup
• Move and renovate the existing buildings
• Sell the properties on the open market
• Seek a private or non-profit partner
• Issue a request for information (RFI) or a request for proposals (RFP)
• Demolish existing buildings and construct new structures

Coun. Joe Gough said he heard repeated interest in the site as a potential space for a library.

“Community space, library are high on that priority, and I agree with that. I think that’s something we’d like to see. The question is, how do we get there?” added Mayor Basil Clarke.

Based on the options staff put forward, Coun. Sherri Bell said, “I don’t want to make a decision on this today.”

She felt there was too much to consider, citing impacts on the community, and said the decision demands a secondary engagement process with the community. She worried the majority of respondents were from Lagoon City and Brechin, but stressed the decision will affect people beyond those areas.

Of the various engagement methods, Gowanlock said several community centres in various communities, including Longford Mills, were given paper copies.

“I personally believe we need to make a decision,” Clarke said, noting the township has owned the buildings for three years.

The Ministry of Transportation requires both buildings be moved farther from the highway.

Deputy Mayor Keith Bell said his train of thought is to look for support from the County of Simcoe or a government sector. Possible affordable housing in one space and a blended community space in another could also help with getting public transit to Brechin, he said.

Coun. David Snutch recognized the staff report states the suggested actions are not mutually exclusive and may be combined.

“I read everything. I don’t think there’s any desire to renovate that building or the other building. I would suggest that the first action we should take would be to rip the two buildings down, save whatever piece that we want, put it somewhere in case we want to use it from a historical point of view or on the new building,” he said.

Demolishing and preparing the space, he noted, may be an incentive for partnerships, potentially one with a better vision.

The mayor agreed with saving any parts for the new building but highlighted the buildings as they stand are “not sustainable.”

“I think the buildings are beyond saving when I look at the cost, and then what you’re still stuck with, ” he said.

Coun. Jennifer Fisher was worried about making a decision too quickly.

“I think it’s a little bit early to make a decision today of what we want those spaces to look like without the information from the economic development committee on what that work plan may look like,” she said.

Gowanlock confirmed the options staff presented to council are not a final decision about what the properties will become.

The decision Feb. 23 was to direct staff to investigate the options further and report back with more engagement.

“These pathways are just suggestions. However, there is an appetite, I’m hearing, for you issuing an RFI. We can certainly combine directions. So, if the council desires to look at the cost of demolition site cleanup and also to look at issuing a request for proposals or information, that’s something that can be done,” she said.

Clarke agreed with combining the actions.

“Anybody that wants to partner, they may say, ‘You know what? We want to keep the buildings.’ But at least they’ll have a cost … because we don’t have it in our budget this year to tear them down. So, at least there’ll be a cost there,” he said.

Coun. Bell wished to also include details regarding the cost to move and renovate the buildings.

Laura Pye, the township’s manager of development and infrastructure, said two quotes were received for this, being between $400,000 and $700,000. She also mentioned these costs were quoted long enough ago that they would need to be updated.

That information could be obtained and shared publicly through an RFI process, she said.

Council passed the motion directing staff to seek further information regarding demolition, to incorporate feasibility and opportunities for heritage commemoration, and to develop an RFI and/or RFP process regarding the two properties.

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