Centre Wellington has approved both a $10,000 interest-free loan and a $10,000 grant for façade improvements at 101 St. Andrew Street West in Fergus.
On March 21, councillors reviewed a presentation on the former Rafferty Insurance building from township economic development officer Patricia Rutter. She recommended council approve both the grant and the loan.
She stated the owners of the building applied for a grant and loan pursuant to the township’s Community Improvement Plan for the purpose of restoring windows and an original entrance and door.
Rutter noted “level 2 incentives” are only available for properties identified as priority sites by council.
The Rafferty Insurance building, which was added to the list of priority sites in January, was constructed circa 1883 by John Black of Blackburn, a successful grain merchant and cattle dealer.
Over the years the building has housed numerous offices and shops, including the Imperial Bank from about 1905 to the mid-1950s, Samuel Marshall’s jewelry shop called “Goldsmith Hall” and at the rear of the store was located the first telephone office in Fergus in 1886.
It was also used more recently for the law office of Wilson, Jack and Grant Law and later Rafferty Insurance Brokers Ltd.
The building was constructed in the second empire style and features a mansard roof with decorative eyebrow-shaped dormer windows on the third storey.
The building is clad in cut brown sandstone which was said to have been brought from the Credit Valley by the Canadian Pacific Railway and was a popular building material used in the 1880s.
The corner doorway is angled at 45 degrees to the intersection and is topped with an octagonal stone tower.
The building added drama and colour to the more traditional limestone streetscape. Most of the windows have rounded cut stone arches with keystones, stone surrounds and sills.
The building is listed in the township’s municipal register of cultural heritage properties, but is not designated under Part IV of the Heritage Act and does not require a heritage permit.
However, Rutter noted the applicant has retained an architect who has extensive experience on heritage building projects.
The owner plans to rehabilitate the building to a public commercial use with residential units on the upper floor. The exterior stone wall will also be repointed, patched and repaired as needed. Interior wood floor boards will be patched and repaired and made level to accept new plywood. The existing lathe and plaster ceiling will be repaired and electrical work will be updated.
The CIP application is specifically for the purpose of reinstating the original main corner doorway with rounded transom, which is currently partly closed-in and converted to a window.
Another exterior doorway is to be replaced with a new wood door with rectangular transom above and sidelights. The owner will also repair and replace windows.
The total estimated cost of the window replacement and restoration of the original entrance door is approximately $100,000.
Rutter stated the CIP Implementation Committee recommends a maximum municipal contribution of $20,000 for this application, which meets the program criteria, having frontage on both St. Andrew Street and St. David Street at a prominent intersection in downtown Fergus; and original heritage features are being restored.
“It is undergoing restoration in all three floors and has already received a new slate roof,” Rutter said, adding the CIP funds will also be used to restore the original front door facing St. David Street and St. Andrew Street.
“It is likely the most prominent corner in all of the township and it would be wonderful to see this building restored to its former glory.”
Councillor Kirk McElwain was surprised the location was not designated a heritage building.
Councillor Mary Lloyd said the improvements have been well received by the community … “but I do want to go on the record … I have difficulty with us giving money to private companies for the improvement of their buildings.
“It is taxpayer money we are giving out.”
Councillor Stephen Kitras shared those concerns.
Councillor Fred Morris said he found it odd that on one hand council could argue about lowering building permit fees to encourage new construction, then argue against helping existing businesses improve their buildings.
Morris said that as a business owner – he has benefited from CIP funding (in a different community).
“I have to tell you that as a business owner, the amount of money I put out, dwarfs considerably what was given to me by the community.”
Morris added “overall, in progressive communities, what I see is the advantage of the CIP program is that we all win when we have facilities in our downtown which are well maintained … rather than to deteriorate to a point where it looks like a ghost town.”
He supported CIP improvements, but said council should be cautious and “not allow any one owner to drain the pot (of funds).”
Rutter said the current CIP program only allows one application.
Councillor Steven VanLeeuwen said councillors need to remember policies previously passed.
“We started with a vision of wanting to improve the downtown cores,” he said, adding this is an excellent project to come forward.
Kitras clarified he was not against the CIP being used to improve the downtown. However, he pointed out the CIP has expanded so that it now has been used for industrial/commercial properties.
“When you are giving away money, you will find an infinite number of people wanting money,” he said.
Mayor Kelly Linton said he believes that for every dollar invested by the township, about five dollars were being invested by the private sector.
Rutter stated the intent of the CIP is to improve the downtown areas of Fergus and Elora in order to drive more business to the community.
She added, “We are seeing it being used for what it was intended for.”
Linton said what is important to remember is there are established criteria.
“They have to be doing something special to their building,” he said.
He added that is why there is some uptake to the program, because it allows business owners to do something of which they will be proud.
Lloyd stressed the CIP funds are not being limited to the downtown areas.
“We have to be careful in discussion, because it is not being limited to the downtowns,” she said, reiterating her concern is that the funds are coming from general tax revenues.
VanLeeuwen said the goal of the CIP is to help create a viable, living community.
“You can’t pay your taxes if there are no jobs,” he said.
Financial implications
In the 2017 budget, there is approximately $75,000 available for CIP grants. This is the first grant to be awarded in 2017.
On March 27, council endorsed its March 21 recommendation to approve the loan and grant.
