St. Mark’s to stay public with repairs on the horizon
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/57...n-the-horizon/
The private sector turned down a chance to take over crumbling St. Mark's church just weeks before the federal government offered up $280,000 in repair cash.
The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure cash depends on the city paying the other two-thirds of the $960,000 project and completing it on a tight 2017 deadline – in time for the country's sesquicentennial.
"We do have to move quickly. But that's not a bad thing for the building," said heritage resource management head Ian Kerr-Wilson, noting the long decline of a late 1800s-era building with a bad roof, damaged floors and no heat, electricity or water.
"The first goal is to stop the decay, to make the building safe and secure."
The city can also focus specifically on resurrecting the Bay Street South church for public use now that private development appears off the table, said downtown Coun. Jason Farr.
Council voted last year to solicit private sector interest as an alternative to a staff-pitched plan to turn the building into a community cultural space, but no bids were submitted by the time the request for proposals process closed last month.
"I have to say I'm happy with that result, given the obvious community interest in maintaining the building for public use," said Farr, who praised in particular the Durand Neighbourhood Association (DNA) for rallying to protect the old church.
Yonatan Rozenszajn, a DNA director and federal Conservative election candidate, had previously urged council to seek Canada 150 funding for the church despite reservations from city staff. Farr ultimately made a successful motion to add the church to the list of funding program submissions at the last minute.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he welcomes all federal funding, but added he's worried about "spending money on something that does not yet have a defined, viable use."
The mayor noted several plans for the old church have fallen apart over time and the city's latest plans are not fleshed out. "The building is clearly historic, the park space is delightful, but we can't save all historic buildings," he said. "I certainly want to hear more details about a solid plan for the future."
A detailed proposal on how the city would run and fund a cultural centre on the site should come in the fall, said Kerr-Wilson. But first, the city will report to council on how the rest of the repair project — including brick repointing and window replacement, on top of mechanical systems replacement — could be covered.
Kerr-Wilson said the ward area rating fund and tax stabilization reserve are potential funding pots. The department could also "reallocate" funds for other projects by delaying scheduled replastering at Whitehern Museum, for example.
Farr said he's also considering asking council to approve the use of funds the city will eventually reap from the sale of another heritage building, the former Charlton Hall.
St. Mark's Anglican Church closed in 1990, but residents opposed a diocese plan to build offices and a residential tower on the site. The city bought and designated the property for $425,000 in the mid-1990s, but balked at a then-$315,000 repair estimate.
This year, about $100,000 from the Ward 2 area rating budget will be spent on the roof after a resident vote.