Tina Depko-Denver, Burlington Post
Feb 20, 2013 - 3:02 PM
Historic building could reopen this summer. The Beachway Park pump house was built in 1909. The city purchased the building in 1987. It is currently vacant. Nikki Wesley/Burlington Post
The Beachway Park pump house could be updated and have a new use as early as this summer.
The building, which was in service from 1910-36 before it was converted to a private residence and eventually purchased by the city in 1987, is currently vacant.
A report going before the Community Services Committee next Wednesday recommends the city issue a request for proposals for seasonal use and select a rental tenant.
“I think the staff recommendation that we try to get a seasonal vendor in there is probably prudent and wise and allows us to get some experience in dealing with a vendor on the beach, it will allow us to learn more about how the pump house could be used and it will provide more services on the beach,” said Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven.
Craven said he expects there will be enough support among his fellow councillors to approve the recommendation, which would go to council on March 18.
He said the unique building is an important part of the city’s history and should become a public space.
“Because it is a historic building, it tells part of the story of the history of the beach and the history of Burlington, so it is important that we use it in a manner that is respectful of that history,” he said.
The pump house was built in 1909 to draw water from Lake Ontario for local residents.
E. Williamson of Burlington constructed the one-storey brick building at a cost of $3,550.
The pump house, located at 1094 Lakeshore Rd., was designated as a heritage building in 1992.
The building will need ‘modest improvements’ to prepare it for a seasonal rental, according to the staff report. There is $62,000 approved in the city’s capital budget for pump house renovations.
Craven said he got a look at the interior of the building a year ago.
“The inside is not in great shape, but when you are in there, you can certainly see the potential if you use your imagination,” said Craven. “It’s a great building on the outside and can be on the inside.”
The city issued a request for expressions of interest in late 2012 to see if there was any interest among third-party groups to lease the pump house.
Four submissions were received by the city. The details of the submissions are being kept confidential, but it was revealed the different types of uses proposed are food/restaurant, retail and recreational services.
“Having read through the confidential part of the report, which talks about the proposals we’ve received through the RFEI (request for expressions of interest), I thought they were quite encouraging,” said Craven. “The proposals we’ve received would suggest that others share our view that the beach pump house has some real value in providing retail services to the beach. The proposals were interesting, creative and optimistic. The question is how do we get from here to there.”
The major hurdle facing the building’s long-term renewal is its septic system, which is not functional and beyond the point of repair. Depending on the capacity of a new system, the cost would be between $5,000-$40,000.
City staff looked into installing a new septic system that would tie into the adjacent beach pavilion septic system, which connects directly into the Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant. However, regional staff said the current system could not handle additional flows.
The region also advised the city to wait for the results of the Burlington Beach Master Plan and Servicing Study, which will provide a comprehensive solution for sanitary services.
The technical studies concerning the future of the beach are expected to go before the city’s Community Services Committee (CSC) on Wednesday, April 17.
“Anything we do on the beach is complicated – complicated by history, complicated by the environment, complicated by property ownership, and this is really a mini example of all of that,” Craven said. “…It would be prudent for us to recognize that we shouldn’t be spending too much money or making too many long-term commitments to the beach pump house knowing within the next year we expect to have it (Beach Master Plan) completed, which will give us a lot of guidance.”
As progress on the Beach Master Plan continues, city staff is looking to move ahead in the meantime to find a summer tenant that will not require water or sanitary services.
If committee and council approves the report’s recommendation to move forward with a request for proposals, the city could do basic renovations in March and April, with a business opening by June 1.
Craven said this will give the city more time to mull over the long-term future of the pump house, build a relationship with the current tenant and work on renovations during the off-season.
He said he has a preferred option for what he’d like to see long-term in the historic building.
“I think it would be great as a year-round refreshment stand,” he said. “You could surround it with a wonderful patio and put out picnic tables, benches and umbrellas in the summertime. In the winter, you could have a wonderful seated area in there with coffee, tea and other beverages. It remains to be seen if that is financially viable.”
Craven said a renovated pump house would be a great addition to the increasingly popular beachway.
“I’ve had a lot of people downtown say to me it would be great to stroll along that beach in the fall and winter seasons, and stop for a cup of coffee and have a sandwich,” he said. “It is a creative possibility that is really exciting.”
To view the report, visit the Feb. 27 committee meeting agenda on the city’s website here and view item 4.
Follow Tina Depko-Denver on Twitter at @CityhallPost.
Forum Photo from last week's snow storm;
Feb 20, 2013 - 3:02 PM
Historic building could reopen this summer. The Beachway Park pump house was built in 1909. The city purchased the building in 1987. It is currently vacant. Nikki Wesley/Burlington Post
The Beachway Park pump house could be updated and have a new use as early as this summer.
The building, which was in service from 1910-36 before it was converted to a private residence and eventually purchased by the city in 1987, is currently vacant.
A report going before the Community Services Committee next Wednesday recommends the city issue a request for proposals for seasonal use and select a rental tenant.
“I think the staff recommendation that we try to get a seasonal vendor in there is probably prudent and wise and allows us to get some experience in dealing with a vendor on the beach, it will allow us to learn more about how the pump house could be used and it will provide more services on the beach,” said Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven.
Craven said he expects there will be enough support among his fellow councillors to approve the recommendation, which would go to council on March 18.
He said the unique building is an important part of the city’s history and should become a public space.
“Because it is a historic building, it tells part of the story of the history of the beach and the history of Burlington, so it is important that we use it in a manner that is respectful of that history,” he said.
The pump house was built in 1909 to draw water from Lake Ontario for local residents.
E. Williamson of Burlington constructed the one-storey brick building at a cost of $3,550.
The pump house, located at 1094 Lakeshore Rd., was designated as a heritage building in 1992.
The building will need ‘modest improvements’ to prepare it for a seasonal rental, according to the staff report. There is $62,000 approved in the city’s capital budget for pump house renovations.
Craven said he got a look at the interior of the building a year ago.
“The inside is not in great shape, but when you are in there, you can certainly see the potential if you use your imagination,” said Craven. “It’s a great building on the outside and can be on the inside.”
The city issued a request for expressions of interest in late 2012 to see if there was any interest among third-party groups to lease the pump house.
Four submissions were received by the city. The details of the submissions are being kept confidential, but it was revealed the different types of uses proposed are food/restaurant, retail and recreational services.
“Having read through the confidential part of the report, which talks about the proposals we’ve received through the RFEI (request for expressions of interest), I thought they were quite encouraging,” said Craven. “The proposals we’ve received would suggest that others share our view that the beach pump house has some real value in providing retail services to the beach. The proposals were interesting, creative and optimistic. The question is how do we get from here to there.”
The major hurdle facing the building’s long-term renewal is its septic system, which is not functional and beyond the point of repair. Depending on the capacity of a new system, the cost would be between $5,000-$40,000.
City staff looked into installing a new septic system that would tie into the adjacent beach pavilion septic system, which connects directly into the Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant. However, regional staff said the current system could not handle additional flows.
The region also advised the city to wait for the results of the Burlington Beach Master Plan and Servicing Study, which will provide a comprehensive solution for sanitary services.
The technical studies concerning the future of the beach are expected to go before the city’s Community Services Committee (CSC) on Wednesday, April 17.
“Anything we do on the beach is complicated – complicated by history, complicated by the environment, complicated by property ownership, and this is really a mini example of all of that,” Craven said. “…It would be prudent for us to recognize that we shouldn’t be spending too much money or making too many long-term commitments to the beach pump house knowing within the next year we expect to have it (Beach Master Plan) completed, which will give us a lot of guidance.”
As progress on the Beach Master Plan continues, city staff is looking to move ahead in the meantime to find a summer tenant that will not require water or sanitary services.
If committee and council approves the report’s recommendation to move forward with a request for proposals, the city could do basic renovations in March and April, with a business opening by June 1.
Craven said this will give the city more time to mull over the long-term future of the pump house, build a relationship with the current tenant and work on renovations during the off-season.
He said he has a preferred option for what he’d like to see long-term in the historic building.
“I think it would be great as a year-round refreshment stand,” he said. “You could surround it with a wonderful patio and put out picnic tables, benches and umbrellas in the summertime. In the winter, you could have a wonderful seated area in there with coffee, tea and other beverages. It remains to be seen if that is financially viable.”
Craven said a renovated pump house would be a great addition to the increasingly popular beachway.
“I’ve had a lot of people downtown say to me it would be great to stroll along that beach in the fall and winter seasons, and stop for a cup of coffee and have a sandwich,” he said. “It is a creative possibility that is really exciting.”
To view the report, visit the Feb. 27 committee meeting agenda on the city’s website here and view item 4.
Follow Tina Depko-Denver on Twitter at @CityhallPost.
Forum Photo from last week's snow storm;