WEST FLAMBOROUGH TOWNSHIP HALL'S FUTURE UNDER REVIEW

DECISION ON INTERNAL REPAIRS AWAITS REAL ESTATE PLAN

City of Hamilton's Real Estate Portfolio Management Committee is reviewing the possibility of declaring the 147-year-old West Flamborough Township Hall in Greensville surplus and selling the heritage property.

"This item is still being discussed internally," city spokesperson Norm Miller said.

It's still undetermined if internal water damage, caused by holes in the building's roof, will be repaired prior to any decision on the property's future.

"Staff have a preliminary budget but (are) unable to disclose at this stage until we have a real estate strategy," Miller said. "We have cleaned the inside of loose and fallen debris."

Greensville Optimist Club had already relocated

to meeting space in the new Greensville Elementary School at 625 Harvest Rd., and the historic hall at 283 Brock Rd. had been unused for approximately two years during the COVID-19 pandemic when holes in the roof, and indoor water damage to ceilings

and walls, were discovered in May 2022, according to city director of energy, fleet and facilities Rom D'Angelo.

"The city made a significant investment in the school," D'Angelo said, four months ago. "It was determined when the

school opened to the community that the (West Flamborough Township) Hall will no longer be used by the Optimist Club."

He acknowledged at that time the Greensville heritage building's future would be uncertain until all restoration costs were estimated and a financial business case assessed.

Emergency replacement of the roof was completed in June at an estimated cost of $37,000, and stripping and painting of the fascia and soffits was completed in September.

West Flamborough Township Hall's heritage designation bylaw was passed in July 1979, and the building was cited as worthy of designation for both architectural and historical reasons.

"Built of local materials in 1875, the hall reflects the general architectural style seen in the former Township Halls of Beverly and East Flamborough but with singular variations," the designation bylaw states. "Historically, it has been for over a century the political and social centre of the township and its preservation is important to the community."