Think of the Chelsea Market in New York City or the Distillery District in Toronto and you can imagine the vision for an exciting cultural corridor which is evolving in the heart of downtown Collingwood.

Theatre Collingwood announces it will be creating a new home base on March 1st at 51 St. Marie Street, at the corner of Simcoe Street. Theatre Collingwood’s new Production Centre will become the location where the professional company will construct sets, render scenic art, create costumes and build props. The Box Office & Administration will join the operations, for the first time ever under the same roof.

As well, the new year-round Drama Training program for Teens and for Adults and rehearsals for productions will take centre stage here. Member events, play readings, and special events are also planned for the future. Theatre Collingwood’s mainstage summer season performances will continue at the Historic Gayety Theatre.

Hella Sandberg is credited for being the catalyst of this new relationship between the Lex’s and the theatre company. A passionate supporter of Theatre Collingwood since its inception in 1984, Hella has served in various capacities during these 27 years as costume designer, head of wardrobe, volunteer committee member and 24/7 cheerleader. Acutely aware of Theatre Collingwood’s needs and its nomadic existence over the years, she suggested the initial meeting between Artistic Director Steven Thomas with Rick Lex. Steven comments, “There was an instant meeting of minds. We have had a common vision but have been working independently toward the same goal: creating an arts hub in the downtown district in which the theatre company would be the core professional performing arts magnet.”

Rick and Anke plan to link the theatre space to the main hall/foyer and feature organic local foods and creative studio spaces. Rick notes, “the conceptional rendering of the exterior by local artist Jason Alexander suggests a grand entrance and facade which complements the heritage surroundings. The renovation of the building’s facade will take place early this year.” Anke adds, “the concept of adaptive reuse has always been very exciting to us. We are absolutely thrilled to house the Theatre Collingwood Production Centre in part of the former Newspaper building.”

The Theatre Collingwood Board of Directors, chaired by Harold Bickerstaff, are equally enthusiastic about the potential. “This represents an exciting and meaningful partnership between a private developer and a non-profit arts organization. We believe this synergy of performing and visual arts will also inspire local residents to more actively engage in their culture” says Bickerstaff proudly.

The new Theatre Collingwood Production Centre will be located across from the Library, in the building formerly known as the Enterprise Bulletin, originally built in 1985 and known as the historic Press Building. Coinciding with this move, the Enterprise Bulletin newspaper is moving next door to the 140 year old historic building which has just been newly restored by the Lex’s.

Theatre Collingwood’s move to the heart of St. Marie and Simcoe Streets connects a cultural pathway between the new Library, the Tremont’s artist studios, The Bay School of Art, the Enterprise Bulletin newspaper, the Collingwood Museum, and just a short walk away, the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts and the Historic Gayety Theatre.

The collective dream of a vibrant cultural arts scene is truly a win-win partnership between Rick & Anke Lex and Theatre Collingwood for the benefit of the entire community.

This contentious site was once home to the town’s original high school which was built in 1874 and then rebuilt after a fire in 1925.  It eventually became an elementary school which many of today’s local residents fondly recall having attended.  In 2003, a new school was built on another site and the existing property was sold to local developers.

In 2005, the developers applied to change both the Official Plan designation and zoning by-laws for the lands to permit a retirement facility and  a six-storey, mixed use, residential/commercial building.  There was significant public opposition as the site is located within Collingwood’s Heritage Conservation District which basically restricted new projects to having a form, scale and height of existing buildings along Hurontario Street with building heights to be a maximum of 11 meters or, 2-3 storeys in the Downtown core.  Despite this restriction and despite a heritage impact assessment saying the building did not conform, the council of the day gave their approvals to the plan.

An appeal to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) was launched by a ratepayers group (full disclosure:  I was integrally involved) and during that time, a new council was also elected.  The new council DID NOT revoke any development approvals however, they did over turn the previous council’s approval of the Heritage Impact Assessment, thereby nullifying the basis of the appeal to the OMB.  They subsequently negotiated a compromise with the developer allowing a 5 storey building with the 5th storey set back from the road to reduce impact on the streetscape.

Reportedly due to economic times, the development did not proceed beyond the digging of a large and unsightly hole on the site.  The public became increasingly agitated and a sentiment to see it built in some form took hold.  Another election was fought and a new council now took on the political responsibility for seeing the project move forward.

This is a long and complicated story with many twists and turns but in a nutshell, the developer, knowing he had a sympathetic council, came back to the table with a proposal for a 6 storey, plus partial 7th storey altered plan to be approved.

Public emotion is again raging and passionate.  There are those who wish to see this project built at any cost and, there are those who fear it will jeopardize the existence of Collingwood’s respected Heritage Conservation District.  In the last week, the discussion seems to be turning toward the design of such a massive building on a prominent site.

Here is a rendering of what the developer has proposed:

Here is an excellent example of a new condominium being built on a very similar site in Etobicoke. In my view, there is simply no contest as to which one stands out as an iconic, heritage style building:

This week-end, I received an anonymous email with several mock-ups attached that show the scale and density of the existing proposal.  The writer refers to the proposed structure as a “monster” and says, “The look and feel of a town is very delicate and a sense of place in one’s mind is easily destroyed.”  I would certainly agree and share the same sentiments.  The writer also attached a number of “professionally generated images” of the building to give people a perspective on just how much this will change our sense of place:

 The Town is holding a public meeting on December 5th to discuss amendments to the Heritage District which would allow the present plan to proceed.  It is sure to be an interesting evening.

Thankfully, Nikki Hall, a rather brilliant woman and her family purchased the house and since then, did a full and complete heritage restoration essentially building a new home that maintained the heritage aspects of the building.  While they love and enjoy the home, circumstances have led them to now putting it up for sale.

After I completed a photo montage of the house, I decided to send it to one of the original family members together with an invitation to view their old family home.  A few weeks ago we did just that.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but as it turns out, they were overjoyed to see that dreams they had for the house themselves had come to fruition and, the house still felt very much like home to each of them.  They told me how their father had strung Christmas lights into the blue spruce tree planted decades ago and which now towers tall.  We pushed our way into the branches and sure enough, there were the old bulbs still wrapped onto branches deep inside.

To learn more about this fascinating and special thorn bury home, visit www.18wellington.com.

Recently, Collingwood council passed a motion asking staff to prepare a “modified tender process” for the possible sale and future uses for the iconic grain elevator structure which was declared surplus by the Town in 2006.  Few buildings provoke reaction among the public like this monolithic structure so the debate about to ensue in the community will be one to watch.  Facebook is already filling up with rants and raves on the issue.

This morning, I dug around in my office and pulled out a 4” thick report prepare back in 1999 which was a study done at that time looking at the feasibility of redevelopment of the Terminals at that time.  I don’t know what it cost to complete but I’m sure it was substantial enough that I hope the current council and staff dust off the cover and have a fresh read through.

A bit of history – back in 1899, Collingwood council identified the need to erect a modern grain elevator and in true political fashion, it wasn’t until September 1, 1928 that the first pilings were driven into the ground.  By May, 1929, the fifty, 100 foot high by 22 feet wide grain bins received their first shipment; 228,000 bushels of American grain delivered by the steamer, MUNISING.  The shipment of grain continued until 1993 when the last shipment left and ended 64 years of trade from this structure.  The facility was purchased by the Town of Collingwood and remains a municipal asset to this day.

In a survey of done of public input in the late 1990’s, 97% of respondents stated the structure should remain and only 3% suggested demolition.  The most often cited ideas for future use were:
 
- A public restaurant on or near the top (58%)
- Shops and services (48%)
- Hotel and/or condominiums (35%)

Having once had the opportunity to visit the third floor myself, I can tell you that the view is nothing short of breathtaking and the idea of being able to create public access to that level is rather irresistible in my books.

Back to the study, there were  a huge range of ideas presented.  One of the more interesting ones came from a local engineering firm who proposed, “The Collingwood Aerial” – a gondola connecting the grain elevators to points downtown, to the west end and to Blue Mountain.  They said it would be “a lynch pin in Collingwood’s economic tourism future.”  They envisioned people arriving by train to a terminus point at the elevators from which they could choose a destination.  Like many great ideas that have come and gone, I suspect this one may just have been ahead of its time. 

In addition to a restaurant/bar, shops or hotel/condominiums, there were many other ideas:

• Yacht racing viewing gallery
  Observation deck
  Theatre/concert hall
  High quality commercial office space
  Meeting room
  Art Gallery
  Marine Museum
  Youth Centre
  Sports facility (climbing walls, racquetball courts, skateboard park)
  Tourist locker facilities
  Rental outlets for bikes, roller blades, fishing or hiking gear, etc
  Resort Hospitality Training Centre
  A cruise ship terminal

(I recently posted a question on my Facebook page and respondents gave many of the same suggestions.  One of the most hilarious though was to paint LOL on the water side facing Wasaga Beach.)

In the end, the study determined that any adaptive re-use had to have strong economic return and deemed that the highest and best use would be for a hotel and restaurant with ancillary shops, observation gallery, a bar and other minor complimentary uses.

The Collingwood Planning Department has started a blog where you can keep up to date on this project and share your comments.

So, what are your ideas for the future uses of the Collingwood Terminals?

Thankfully, the house sold to Cindy and Steve Lewis who proved to be true visionaries.  Recently, they won a well deserved, Collingwood’s heritage award for their restoration. 

Today, the beautifully restored building serves as Cindy’s chiropodist clinic and offices.

This wonderful century home in Thornbury was sold last year to a family with vision and I am marvelously impressed by their skill and creativity!  Have a look at these before and after shots:

Side Entry Before

Side Entry After

Front Room Before

Now A Dining Room After

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Living Room Before

Living Room After

I’ve often mentioned Rick Lex here on this blog as our key heritage advocates in Collingwood.  He is founder of the local chapter of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (of which I am myself a proud member) and, a developer who has shown that heritage preservation can work on every level.  His award-winning  renovation of the former Tremont Hotel in Collingwood’s downtown is a perfect example.

In the third presentation of the local, “No Place Like Home” Speaker Series,  Rick Lex discusses how cultural heritage relaties to sustainability and to our sense of place.  I encourage you to take about 20 minutes to learn from this outstanding gentleman by viewing this video.

Architectural Conservatory Of Ontario

As stated by the Aco, the award was well deserved.  The Lex’s won for their “vision and hard work in restoring the Tremont House, Collingwood. A once decrepit building ready for demolition is now a remarkable gem in Collingwood’s downtown heritage district. This outstanding project raises the bar for the restoration of  heritage architecture in Ontario, and will serve as a model for other dreamers across the province.”

All of us in Collingwood are also proud of what you have achieved and have watched you toil with heart and soul bringing this very special building back to life.  What easily could have become landfill has become a landmark to be cherished for centuries ahead.  We congratulate Rick and Anke for achieving this richly deserved recognition.

After a yearlong restoration that fascinated many of us in Town who watched the transformation taking place,the Tremont will celebrate it’s Grand Re-Opening on September 17th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and YOU are invited.

Here is what owners Rick and Anke Lex have to say:

“Built in 1889 by John McCormick as a 24 room hotel, the Tremont is one of the last remaining 19th century hotel buildings in the Collingwood Heritage Conservation District. The building survived a major fire in the 1920’s leaving burn marks still visible on the pine flooring.”

“After a yearlong restoration, the Tremont is now home to the Bay School of Art, the Tremont Cafe and the Elihu Book Room, as well as artist studios and live/work spaces. The building incorporates sustainable and environmental measures, along with heritage preservation.”

“Three facades of the building underwent a historically correct restoration and are protected by a conservation agreement. The Tremont’s south wall and roof garden, is inspired by Viennese painter and architect F. Hundertwasser. We are grateful to the many people who played a part in saving the building. A heartfelt thanks to the skilled trades and crafts people who brought a wonderful and positive energy to the project. Also, many thanks to the community – your encouragement and support have been wonderful. Finally, thanks to the Tremont tenants for their trust and faith in the project from the beginning.”

And they said it couldn’t be done. Congratulations Rick and Anke for proving them wrong and for teaching us all a lesson on how much heritage matters.   Having watched you over the last year, I have seen your passion.  I know how much you care and now, you can justifiably swell with pride at what you have accomplished.