The City of Hamilton is poised to move on with its own plan for the operation and upkeep of the historic Auchmar Estate on the west Mountain that could cost $10 million over five or 10 years.
Ward 8 councillor John-Paul Danko said he was given the rough cost estimate by city heritage staff who are recommending the city’s planning and economic development department be directed to come up with a plan for the “adaptive reuse” of the heritage site.
The recommendation goes before the general issues committee on Jan. 16.
“At some point we have to move on with it,” Danko said.
He noted city officials have been working on an Auchmar business plan for some time and he expects to see the plan in the next few months
The plan will likely include office space in the manor building and opening part of the site as an accessible public park with space to hold events and gatherings.
Danko said city staff have told him they are confident they can find the money for Auchmar within existing budgets along with financial support from the senior levels of government and other heritage support groups.
In June 2016, city council directed staff to try and work out an agreement with the XIIIth Battalion Auchmar Trust group, an offshoot of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, to come up with a management agreement for the site.
The trust had proposed a five-year $20.4-million plan and city officials provided the group with a list of questions for clarification.
According to the report going to the GIC, those questions have not been answered nor have the Trust’s fundraising efforts “gathered additional momentum.”
Appearing before councillors last March, trust spokesperson Brian Buckle admitted the group had only about $11,300 in promised donations from unnamed supporters while the first year of operating expenses was estimated at about $283,000.
Hamilton Community News has made numerous attempts to contact Buckle for comment, but have not been successful.
The report says two members of the trust's board have resigned for health reasons.
Danko said he supports keeping Auchmar in city hands.
“The heritage restrictions on the property are such that it makes it really difficult for a viable business case if you are not somebody like the City of Hamilton that has the resources to stick with it for a long period of time,” he said.
The estate was the home of Isaac Buchanan, an important local businessman and politician in 19th-century Hamilton.
He had the Auchmar mansion built in 1857 and in 1862 organized the 13th Battalion that in 1922 was renamed the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Diane Dent, chair of the Hamilton heritage group Friends of Auchmar, said while she supports the city initiative she is disappointed for the Trust group.
“That’s sad,” she said. “Hopefully they will play some role.”
Dent said Auchmar has the potential to become a major tourist attraction.
The GIC report also noted the city spends as much as $27,000 a year on heating, water, snow clearing, grass cutting and cleaning at Auchmar.
Some of that cost is covered by revenues from commercial filming at the site and in the last couple of years the city has spent nearly $667,000 to rebuild a garden stonewall, install a new roof on the Coach House plus other repairs.
The repairs were also supported by nearly $300,000 in Canada 150 grant money.
The City of Hamilton is poised to move on with its own plan for the operation and upkeep of the historic Auchmar Estate on the west Mountain that could cost $10 million over five or 10 years.
Ward 8 councillor John-Paul Danko said he was given the rough cost estimate by city heritage staff who are recommending the city’s planning and economic development department be directed to come up with a plan for the “adaptive reuse” of the heritage site.
The recommendation goes before the general issues committee on Jan. 16.
“At some point we have to move on with it,” Danko said.
He noted city officials have been working on an Auchmar business plan for some time and he expects to see the plan in the next few months
The plan will likely include office space in the manor building and opening part of the site as an accessible public park with space to hold events and gatherings.
Danko said city staff have told him they are confident they can find the money for Auchmar within existing budgets along with financial support from the senior levels of government and other heritage support groups.
In June 2016, city council directed staff to try and work out an agreement with the XIIIth Battalion Auchmar Trust group, an offshoot of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, to come up with a management agreement for the site.
The trust had proposed a five-year $20.4-million plan and city officials provided the group with a list of questions for clarification.
According to the report going to the GIC, those questions have not been answered nor have the Trust’s fundraising efforts “gathered additional momentum.”
Appearing before councillors last March, trust spokesperson Brian Buckle admitted the group had only about $11,300 in promised donations from unnamed supporters while the first year of operating expenses was estimated at about $283,000.
Hamilton Community News has made numerous attempts to contact Buckle for comment, but have not been successful.
The report says two members of the trust's board have resigned for health reasons.
Danko said he supports keeping Auchmar in city hands.
“The heritage restrictions on the property are such that it makes it really difficult for a viable business case if you are not somebody like the City of Hamilton that has the resources to stick with it for a long period of time,” he said.
The estate was the home of Isaac Buchanan, an important local businessman and politician in 19th-century Hamilton.
He had the Auchmar mansion built in 1857 and in 1862 organized the 13th Battalion that in 1922 was renamed the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Diane Dent, chair of the Hamilton heritage group Friends of Auchmar, said while she supports the city initiative she is disappointed for the Trust group.
“That’s sad,” she said. “Hopefully they will play some role.”
Dent said Auchmar has the potential to become a major tourist attraction.
The GIC report also noted the city spends as much as $27,000 a year on heating, water, snow clearing, grass cutting and cleaning at Auchmar.
Some of that cost is covered by revenues from commercial filming at the site and in the last couple of years the city has spent nearly $667,000 to rebuild a garden stonewall, install a new roof on the Coach House plus other repairs.
The repairs were also supported by nearly $300,000 in Canada 150 grant money.
The City of Hamilton is poised to move on with its own plan for the operation and upkeep of the historic Auchmar Estate on the west Mountain that could cost $10 million over five or 10 years.
Ward 8 councillor John-Paul Danko said he was given the rough cost estimate by city heritage staff who are recommending the city’s planning and economic development department be directed to come up with a plan for the “adaptive reuse” of the heritage site.
The recommendation goes before the general issues committee on Jan. 16.
“At some point we have to move on with it,” Danko said.
He noted city officials have been working on an Auchmar business plan for some time and he expects to see the plan in the next few months
The plan will likely include office space in the manor building and opening part of the site as an accessible public park with space to hold events and gatherings.
Danko said city staff have told him they are confident they can find the money for Auchmar within existing budgets along with financial support from the senior levels of government and other heritage support groups.
In June 2016, city council directed staff to try and work out an agreement with the XIIIth Battalion Auchmar Trust group, an offshoot of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, to come up with a management agreement for the site.
The trust had proposed a five-year $20.4-million plan and city officials provided the group with a list of questions for clarification.
According to the report going to the GIC, those questions have not been answered nor have the Trust’s fundraising efforts “gathered additional momentum.”
Appearing before councillors last March, trust spokesperson Brian Buckle admitted the group had only about $11,300 in promised donations from unnamed supporters while the first year of operating expenses was estimated at about $283,000.
Hamilton Community News has made numerous attempts to contact Buckle for comment, but have not been successful.
The report says two members of the trust's board have resigned for health reasons.
Danko said he supports keeping Auchmar in city hands.
“The heritage restrictions on the property are such that it makes it really difficult for a viable business case if you are not somebody like the City of Hamilton that has the resources to stick with it for a long period of time,” he said.
The estate was the home of Isaac Buchanan, an important local businessman and politician in 19th-century Hamilton.
He had the Auchmar mansion built in 1857 and in 1862 organized the 13th Battalion that in 1922 was renamed the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Diane Dent, chair of the Hamilton heritage group Friends of Auchmar, said while she supports the city initiative she is disappointed for the Trust group.
“That’s sad,” she said. “Hopefully they will play some role.”
Dent said Auchmar has the potential to become a major tourist attraction.
The GIC report also noted the city spends as much as $27,000 a year on heating, water, snow clearing, grass cutting and cleaning at Auchmar.
Some of that cost is covered by revenues from commercial filming at the site and in the last couple of years the city has spent nearly $667,000 to rebuild a garden stonewall, install a new roof on the Coach House plus other repairs.
The repairs were also supported by nearly $300,000 in Canada 150 grant money.