Saving history

Efforts continue to retain MacDonald and Hyatt houses

Two heritage houses located in a prime location by the lake within Sandbanks Provincial Park that have each stood for around 150 years are just one week away from facing potential demolition, and not for the first time. The properties, which are not municipally owned, have a long back story where demolition has been delayed several times, for various reasons. Steps had been taken over the summer to pause demolition until September 1 to protect roosting birds and bats, and to avoid the summer tourist season. Representing the group Save Heritage Sandbanks Homes, which formed in June, Peter Lockyer made a deputation to council last week with an on-going plea to ensure the two houses located on County Road 12 remain a part of the Prince Edward County landscape. Sarah Sinclair with Save Heritage Sandbanks Homes, and Philip Evans with ERA Architects, also made comments in support of saving the two houses, although poor audio did not permit transcription of their comments. Lockyer noted the group’s mission is to save and re-purpose the Hyatt and MacDonald houses to enrich the visitor experience at Sandbanks Provincial Park, and to preserve and promote Prince Edward County’s cultural heritage.

Standing in for Liz Driver, who had been called away on a related urgent matter, Lockyer said the group’s approach is co-operative. “We want to bring people together to open a dialogue with Ontario Parks about potential new uses for the houses,” he said. “It is often the case that the future of a heritage building hangs by a thread, but intervention at a crucial moment changes the dial from demolition to saving and re-purposing,” said Lockyer. “Our group believes that this is just such a moment for the Hyatt and MacDonald houses.” He also noted there had been a change at the ministerial level as David Piccini had recently been appointed Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Lockyer reminded council that Piccini represents the nearby riding of Northumberland-Peterborough South. “Minister Piccini is involved in conserving and re-purposing local heritage in his own riding,” Lockyer noted. “He has worked on projects in Cobourg and Port Hope and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, and he understands the importance of engaging with citizens and councils regarding plans for provincially- owned heritage properties.”

Lockyer said they are also hopeful with the news that came in May when Ontario Parks announced a new program where the Province said it will “work with partners in the private and notfor- profit sectors … to develop innovative ideas for new recreation experiences at provincial parks that will enhance the visitor experience. “Ontario Parks’ earlier decision to demolish the houses was based on its stated inability to identify uses for the Hyatt and MacDonald houses, and its then lack of resources to fund restoration,” said Lockyer, who added the announcement this spring addresses those issues.

Last week’s council meeting also saw councillor Ernie Margetson put forward a motion seeking the support of council to authorize Mayor Ferguson to send a letter to the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks requesting that the ministry “seek innovative options for preservation of the Hyatt and MacDonald houses as an alternative to demolition, and to pursue a protection strategy for these provincially-owned heritage assets.” Margetson’s resolution read in part: “the Corporate Strategic Plan includes maintaining rural and historic character as a priority, with an objective to support and facilitate adaptive re-use of heritage assets and discourage demolitions.” Further, he stated the Official Plan includes policy to ensure the conservation, restoration, maintenance and enhancement of identified cultural heritage resources. The resolution continued: “Ontario Parks is deliberating over the future of two cultural heritage buildings, the Hyatt and MacDonald houses, which provide historical context for the history of Sandbanks Provincial Park as a centre for summer lodges and recreation, and a direct connection to the current vibrant tourist activity in the Sandbanks area.” It went on to say the Prince Edward County Heritage Advisory Committee recommended that Ontario Parks “seek the creation of a joint public-private partnership to restore and re-purpose the MacDonald and Hyatt properties”. Mayor Ferguson said he had no problem in sending a letter, something council agreed to.

Meanwhile, Greg Sorbara, owner and developer of Picton’s Royal Hotel has weighed in on the importance of restoring important heritage properties in Prince Edward County, re-imagining the heritage Hyatt and MacDonald homes, in a letter in which he asked Minister Piccini on August 3 to halt demolition of the properties, and specifically to consider alternatives in re-purposing. “These historic properties represent a significant part of our community’s cultural heritage, and their adaptive re-use will enrich the visitor experience at Sandbanks Park and the County,” stated Sorbara. “There is strong community support for a public-private partnership that restores these historic places, and the community would welcome a re-imagining of the houses for a range of potential uses inspired by their rich cultural heritage.” He suggested, for example, a visitor interpretation centre and exhibit space, accommodation, restaurant and café, general store, or a combination of different uses.

In his letter, Sorbara pointed to the many private investors who have made significant investments to restore important heritage properties in recent years, saying “demolition has been replaced by restoration.” Sorbara concluded by stating that together with the community, Ontario Parks needs to explore new, creative opportunities for the Hyatt and MacDonald properties, mentioning the recent announcement by Ontario Parks committing to developing innovative ideas for recreational experiences in partnership with private and not-for-profit sectors. “This forwardthinking approach should guide next steps. These brick buildings still stand on their stone foundations and were meant to last. Given their setting and heritage value, I am confident they will attract a range of viable proposals.”

Lockyer reiterated that Save Heritage Sandbanks Homes’ request to Minister Piccini is simple and reasonable: “Pause demolition while Ontario Parks work out the details of the new program and consider how innovative proposals from third parties could provide an alternative to demolition of the Sandbanks homes,” he said. “There is nothing to be gained by demolishing them, but a lot to be gained by refurbishing them and putting them to new uses,” added Sorbara. Save Heritage Sandbanks Homes can be reached at saveheritagesandbankshomes.com and there is a short survey there which the public are encouraged to complete.