Reprieve

Two Sandbanks properties safe from demolition for time being

When official notice came on February 22, 2021 from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, giving the go-ahead for the demolition of two properties within Sandbanks Provincial Park, the decision appeared final. With snow and tree clearing already underway, and demolition of the two houses appearing imminent, there began a flurry of activity, first on March 4 when Edwin Rowse, retired heritage architect, filed legal proceedings seeking a stay of the demolition of the two properties, namely the historic Hyatt and MacDonald houses located within Sandbanks Provincial Park. A case management meeting scheduled for March 9 was rescheduled to March 10 so architect Philip Evans’ deputation to council on March 10 could be considered.

Heritage architect Philip Evans, principal with ERA Architects based in Toronto, had made an offer to Ontario Parks to undertake a feasibility study, as well as a proposal for a leasehold option, something that was declined by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Last week, Evans made a deputation to council outlining his proposal for the two sites. He noted how on October 7, he had submitted a letter to the Ministry asking for an opportunity to be a private sector partner-investor in response to the Ministry’s decision to not maintain their financial commitment of the Hyatt and MacDonald houses.

Evans says in response to his offer to the province to bring forward operators and investors to bring life back to the two buildings, he offered a three-month due diligence period. “This would give me time to confirm funding, assess the buildings in their condition, define a scope of work and determine a financially feasible model that would make sense,” he says. Evans further noted that he had also asked the Ministry to consider a 49-year lease as part of the suggested alternative model.

ERA Architects are mainly involved with the adaptive re-use of buildings, large complexes, streets and communities. “Many years ago, we had embarked on understanding what the value of places in rural settings is and how they would explore alternative economic models which would leverage cultural assets that they had, many of which were based on natural resourced-based economies and they were in a state of transition,” explains Evans. He said they were looking for sites they could leverage and understand how that could be based on community values. “It keeps us very much in touch with many of the issues and challenges facing small communities across this country.”

Evans confirmed he met with Ministry officials and then heard from them on February 4 declining his offer. “I counter-offered to move quickly,” he says. “These buildings are not far gone enough for us to just walk away from and I am still interested in participating in bringing forward a financial model that makes sense to everyone,” he says. “I would just ask for the opportunity that I be able to get in there and do the assessment and bring offers forward.” He says he feels this is something that can be done fairly quickly. “It is something I would think in a partnership or in an agreement between the Ministry and the municipality and myself on behalf of investor groups, I would very much appreciate any cooperation and contribution that anyone is interested in taking part in.”

Evans noted he was joined by Sarah Sinclair, a descendant of one of the original families, where he offered council an opportunity for her to share a brief history of the site, something that council did not take up. “I think the idea that these are sites that are reflective of the evolution of this community, reflecting its industry, its culture and its values is pretty extraordinary.”

Councillor Kate McNaughton asked Evans if there is a particular vision or particular partners or investors he would be looking to work with in this site. While Evans wasn’t prepared to reveal who the investors were, he was able to share that there are three parties that are interested in investing in the sites. “I think these sites would be great as a complement to much of the tourism and community- building that has happened in the County of late,” he says, noting one of the parties is already operating within the County. “These would be operators that understand what the value of places is and how to leverage that and it would probably include community programming, but they would be financially sustaining organizations that would be part of what it is to build a cultural economy.” He said the general category would be in the realm of short-term accommodations and the various forms that offers what the investors are interested in pursuing.

Councillor Jamie Forrester asked what the intentions of the investors were and what the properties would be used for, such as creating a museum or housing. Evans responded by saying the intention would be to fix up the buildings in the footprint that currently exists, noting the sites had previously operated as inns and lodging, and maintaining that use would be ideal. “This is not about developing additional gross floor area on each of these sites, it’s about committing to a model to steward these buildings on their lands, and through that negotiation I would expect both the municipality would have interest and expectation, and also the Ministry that would inform that expectation as well,” he said. Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson reminded council that the buildings in question are on provincial property and therefore were under the realm of the provincial government.