Some were born there. Some said goodbye there. For decades, the old Niagara-on-the-Lake hospital held the most important moments of people’s lives.
Now, as council signals a parking-focused future for the site, the James A. Burton & Family Foundation is holding firm in its vision for the old hospital.
“This building once cared for the people of this town,” said chairman Jim Burton, speaking to a packed room Tuesday night.
“Today, we are imagining how that place of care can, once again, serve the community — in a new way, for a new generation.”
Addressing more than 120 community leaders, educators, artists and cultural groups, Burton laid out the foundation’s hope for 176 Wellington St.: a multi-use community hub with classrooms, a daycare, performance and rehearsal areas, exhibition spaces and a permanent home for local arts, heritage and cultural groups — along with about 250 parking spaces.
The plan would reuse the existing building. Burton said the organization won’t reveal all the details about its plans for the space, as a request for proposal hasn’t been issued by the town yet.
A “community voices” video featuring 14 local organizations and community members was also played at the event.
The foundation’s proposal is shaped through engagement with more than 140 organizations and over 1,200 residents over the past three years. It says that process has consistently pointed to community use, not parking, as the site’s primary purpose.
“We’ve included parking in our vision, but it’s not the priority,” said Burton. “The priority is all of you.”
Local theatre voices are backing the proposal.
Andorlie Hillstrom, founder and artistic director of Yellow Door Theatre Project, who is featured in the video, told The Lake Report she’s in support of the proposal.
“It is needed by our community,” said Hillstrom. “This could make a world of difference in what we are able to give back to the young people in our community.”
“We need our individuals who represent us at council to understand that there is a driving force behind it,” she said about the proposal.
Uncertainty remains around what council will ultimately allow on the site.
Whiteline Architects, which prepared concept plans and a cost estimate for the parking garage, indicates one of the requirements the town provided it was to review the feasibility of retaining all or part of the existing hospital building.
The town staff’s report includes the financial implications of this project, including $700,000 for demolition.
During the question period, attendees raised concerns about whether a future request for proposals could be restricted to the roughly 13,000 square feet designated for community use, rather than the full site. Burton said he has not received any official indication from council on that point.
“We need over 50,000 square feet to accommodate all the things that you told our detailed planners that you need,” he said, adding that if restrictions were put in place, the group would first try to influence council’s direction.
“We would delegate before that and hopefully make some impact,” said Burton.
If that didn’t work, he said, the group would still submit a proposal for the full site.
One resident asked whether any NOTL councillors had been invited and Burton said yes. When the resident asked the crowd if any councillors were present and to raise a hand, the room fell silent — prompting a few audible reactions.
Burton said residents’ questions spoke to the depth of feeling in the room.
“I think the input we have tonight shows how passionately people are in this town that their voices be heard,” he said.
“Voices are a lot more than just support.”
