PBD-2019-26 Old City Hall
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Bill Matson From: Carey Campbell Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 11:13 AM To: Bill Matson Subject: FW: Alternatives for what to do with the old City Hall Attachments: OldCityHall.jpg To mayor and council members. From: Kenneth Sent: Monday, March 25, 2019 3:11 PM To: CouncilMembers <[email protected]>; Jim Diodati <[email protected]> Cc: Alex Herlovitch <[email protected]>; Ken Todd <[email protected]>; Andrew Bryce <[email protected]>; Ken Mech <[email protected]> Subject: Alternatives for what to do with the old City Hall Dear Mayor Diodati and Counsellors: Mayor Diodati is right that the municipal government needs to do its part toward revitalizing downtown. All agree that the old city hall currently serves no purpose. The question is what is the most cost-effective and socially responsible thing to do with it. Demolition: cost without benefit Demolition would cost $260,000. The city would gain a vacant lot generating no revenue and attracting no visitors. Downtown has too many vacant lots already. What the city would lose is an irreplaceable asset: the heritage building from which this municipality was governed for more than a century, from 1866 to 1970. One alternative: a spectacular ruin The least expensive alternative to demolition is to turn this historical gem into a ruin. Remove the brick veneer and facade that were added in 1954. Expose the gorgeous architecture underneath: the original stone walls, Romanesque arched windows, and tall entrance-ways. Gut all or most of the interior, depending on what condition it is in. Get rid of the roof. Fill in the basement. Grade and hardscape the grounds inside and out. Design and plant a multi-level garden amongst walkways and terraces. 1 Attached is a photo of the structure as it appeared in 1953, in the movie Niagara that starred Marilyn Monroe. Turning the original into an enchanting ruin would cost little more than destroying it. It would draw people downtown and be a popular venue for weddings, reunions, concerts, plays, picnics – social gatherings of all kinds. It could generate revenue from rental fees. Most important, for the indefinite future, the ruin would show respect for the past generations whose participation in local democracy shaped the foundation of our community. Examples elsewhere I’ll paste in below links to half a dozen ruins elsewhere that attract visitors and host events. Our old city hall could become more of a draw than any of them, and for not much more money than the cost of tearing the building down. Regards to all, Kenneth Niagara Falls, Ontario __________________________________________________ Treasured ruins, near and far Just north of Guelph, the castle-like ruins of the Harris Woolen Mills have been described as “the biggest tourist draw” of the Rockwood Conservation area. The City of Cambridge charges $300 per wedding at its downtown Mill Race Park, the ruins of the Dickson Textile Mill. In Glengarry, near Cornwall, St. Raphael's Ruins hosts religious services, weddings and concerts each summer. 2 The ruins of Santiago Apostol Church in Cartago, Costa Rica, show a pleasing combination of historic architecture and horticulture. The Boston system of public parks includes Schoolmaster Hill, ruins of a park administration building partially destroyed by fire in the 1930s. 3.