Discussions are continuing between the federal government and the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority to eventually transfer the historic Beach Canal Lighthouse property to the local organization.

“No agreement has been finalized,” said Larissa Fenn, director of public affairs for the authority. “There is more momentum around this effort now than there has been in many years.”

George Thomson, chair of the executive committee for the Beach Canal Lighthouse group, echoed the positive signals that have been coming from the federal government.

“It’s only a matter of months until we can gain access to the tower,” he told members of the Hamilton Future Fund recently.

The 17-metre (55-foot) stone tower dates to 1858. A lighthouse has existed at the current location to the entrance of Burlington Bay since the 1830s.

The 1.5-storey lighthouse keeper cottage was constructed in 1857. Both were operation until 1961.

Since 2004 when the federal department of public works and government services declared the land where the 1858 light station and keeper’s cottage is located surplus, the not-for-profit beach lighthouse volunteer group has attempted to acquire the lighthouse to restore it. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans owns the lighthouse, while Public Services and Procurement Canada owns the property. The federal government has refused to transfer or lease the property to a volunteer group.

In 2013, a licensing agreement was established between the federal government and the lighthouse organization to allow repairs to be made at the lighthouse and clean up the bat guano that was contributing to its deterioration.

In 2017, the port authority became involved in the negotiations with the federal government and the beach lighthouse group to ultimately redevelopment Fisherman’s Pier for recreation and pedestrian access purposes.

Fenn said the authority’s “ideal scenario” is that the organization would own or obtain the property and structure on a long-term lease. Then the lighthouse group would open the space for public access and programing.

As it is, Fenn said the discussions with the federal government include gaining permission to the keeper’s cottage to study the condition of the structure.

“We see this as a first step,” she said.

Charles Drouin, spokesperson for Public Services and Procurement Canada, said the department “continues to work with” the authority and “negotiations are ongoing.”

Discussions, he said, include possible funding options to restore parts of the property.

The Hamilton Future Fund did provide the Beach Canal Lighthouse group with about $400,000 that would be used to help restore the structure.

In February, council agreed to contribute $25,000 from a reserve fund for the beach strip area that Ward 5 Coun. Chad Collins suggested should be used to help pay for an assessment of the lighthouse.

A 2005 study by the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario found the lighthouse to be sound, even though it recommended replacing the mortar joints and the wood stairs, which are “unsafe.”

Thomson, the great-great-grandson of the Beach Canal Lighthouse keeper in the 1850s, said the goal would be to restore the lighthouse, and renovate the keeper’s cottage into an interpretive centre and marine information museum that would allow for public accessibility.

“It’s an amazing location,” he said.

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who has championed the restoration of the lighthouse for years, applauded the plans for the structure.

“I know it has not been easy,” said Eisenberger. “Jurisdictional issues have been the biggest challenge. This is well worth preserving. Personally, I think this is a brilliant concept.”