The cost of repairs to the Old Town Hall in Vittoria will exceed $900,000 according to a report released by Norfolk County staff.
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An update on the town hall was presented to Norfolk County councilors just a couple weeks after more than a dozen Vittoria residents gathered at the site to express concerns about its future. The building has been closed for about four years but has been used in the past for community events.
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Norfolk councilors were told at a Sept. 19 meeting that the cost of completing repairs to the building’s exterior is expected to be $925,000. That’s in addition to at least $245,000 in capital repairs that will need to be completed over the next 20 years.
The cost estimates, which were included in a staff report, don’t include expenses to cover improving building accessibility and energy efficiency, the report says.
An evaluation of the building found that it is in “critical” condition because of the repairs required.
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“The combination of the large cost increase of the restoration project with very limited financial resources (or offsetting facility revenue) and the close proximity to the Vittoria & District Community Center and expanding facility utilization poses significant challenges,” the staff report says.
Plans are in the works for a public meeting sometime this fall to discuss the future of the historic structure.
Residents say the hall is the “heart of the village” and have expressed concern the hall’s future would be decided without them having a say.
The original public hall was built in the late 1860s but destroyed by fire in 1870, says a staff report.
The hall was rebuilt in 1879 and designated under the province’s heritage act in 1986.
County staff say residents will also be able to share their views of two other properties in Vittoria – 14 Oakes Blvd. and 15 Firefighters Lane – which are owned by the county.
Meanwhile, consultations between county staff and the Norfolk County Heritage Committee are ongoing to ensure heritage considerations are taken into account when deciding future plans.
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