BELWOOD – Belwood Hall could have a glass enclosed vestibule, new floors and lighting, an updated kitchenette and more storage.
But what it definitely will have are accessible washrooms and entrances.
The township held a public meeting on Feb. 11 at Belwood Hall to discuss plans to refresh the building and make it accessible. About 20 local residents attended.
Kasey Beirnes, supervisor of facility operations for the township, said the municipality’s priority is to make the facility accessible as is required by the province.
But the renovation is also an opportunity to make it better, he said, as he encouraged members of the public to voice their concerns with the facility and their vision of what it could be.
ATA Architects Inc. has been hired to develop the blueprint for the new facility.
ATA principal Michael Biljetina said his firm has had discussions with township staff and has some understanding of how the building is currently used.
“But we want to start the dialogue with the community. Send your comments. Send everything you can think of,” said Biljetina.
What is known is that there is a budget of $800,000 to $875,000 for the project and that the aim is to have construction competed by April of 2026.
That will necessarily dictate how much can be done to Belwood Hall.
But the firm has done some work and had slides that showed what Belwood Hall could look like.
Biljetina divided the building into five zones: the washrooms, the main entrance, the kitchenette, the stage and the assembly hall zones.
The washrooms
The building is constructed on a grade change and there are steps down to the washroom area and steps up to the entrance from the street and to the stage from assembly hall.
Biljetina proposed raising the washroom floor and reconfiguring the space to accommodate three stalls – one for men, one for women and a universal washroom that is accessible – and a janitor closet.
There would also be a door directly to outside that would also be accessible.
This would allow the washrooms to be used – during baseball tournaments for example – while the rest of the building is locked and secure.
The entrance
Biljetina proposed widening the entrance door to accommodate wheelchairs and building a glass-walled vestibule outside the building to extend the space. An exterior ramp would allow access to the vestibule from the street.
A second option is to have the vestibule and ramp but also a sidewalk running around that configuration.
“This option is more flexible and probably works better,” Biljetina said.
The kitchen
Biljetina saw two options for the kitchen. Either make it a full kitchen with a stove top and ovens for cooking, or keep it a servery that would be more suitable for heating pre-cooked food.
A full kitchen would require a range exhaust and a sprinkler system, which are not there presently.
Assembly hall and stage
The hall needs the floors restored, windows, new lighting and air conditioning. The floor joists would need to be sistered for more stability.
A ramp could replace the small set of stairs that lead to the stage. Mechanical systems are located under the stage, so that’s a factor that also needs to be considered.
Beirnes said there are also some constraints with the property. There is a septic bed the township hopes not to disturb and Grand River Conservation Authority flood plains at the back of the property.
There are also some structural concerns at the back of the building, which will also be remedied.
These are only ideas at this stage, the presenters stressed.
“We really want to hear what you use it for,” Beirnes said, adding that will help determine the renovation.
Some in the audience thought a newly renovated space would drive more demand so it’s hard to know how it would be used in the future.
And the servery is hardly used because of the equipment that’s available now.
Biljetina suggested thinking in terms of annual use.
“In one year how many events would need a full kitchen?” he asked.
The meeting about Belwood Hall improvements was followed by the mayor’s townhall, where residents could ask the mayor or senior staff about local initiatives.
There were complaints about speeding and also acknowledgement that OPP presence in the area has increased recently.
Mayor Shawn Watters noted the Geranium Homes development is well underway but there are still a few opportunities for development near Belwood along Wellington Road 19.
“The community is going to grow,” Watter said, “but with interest rates, things are not moving so well right now.”
Anyone wishing to comment on the Belwood Hall can email the architect at admin@ataarchitectsinc.com.
