The fate of the historic Vittoria Town Hall remains in limbo after Norfolk councilors decided to delay a decision about whether to sell the building so discussions with potential buyers could be arranged.
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That gives the Vittoria Town Square Preservation Society some time to consider its next move and the feasibility of taking up the county’s potential offer to sell the hall, which needs significant repair, to a local non-profit group for $1.
“We are asking for time to find a group or form a group,” society member Joan Norman told councilors at a council-in-committee meeting on Tuesday. “We need at least six months to come back to you with a viable proposal. If we have to buy it, we have to buy it but we need time.”
A report included in Tuesday’s meeting agenda, which was referred back to Norfolk staff, recommended the sale of the county-owned hall to a community group as the preferred action from among six options.
That option would rid the county of responsibility for repair of the hall, which county staff estimate would cost $1 million if completed in 2025.
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The preservation society is a sub-committee of the Vittoria and District Foundation Inc. Member Allan Leighton questioned Norfolk councilors and staff about why the organization, which is unable to own property, couldn’t lease the town hall. Leighton said the county has leasing arrangements for some of its other buildings, including Lynnwood Arts.
Discussions between county staff and any group interested in purchasing the town hall will be held prior to a follow-up report to come back to council for a decision early next year.
“Hopefully, we’ll get some competition and get the price up to two bucks,” joked Coun. Chris VanPaassen.
Many Vittoria residents are passionate about saving the Vittoria Town Hall, which dates back to 1879, calling it the “centrepiece of the community.” Last November, close to 300 people packed into the village community center to confront municipal staff over rumored plans to sell the hall and vent their frustration over Norfolk County’s alleged neglect of the heritage building.
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Along with sale of the town hall to a non-profit group, with the county retaining ownership of the adjacent Lamport Park, other options outlined in the staff report included retaining county ownership of the building and the park; retaining county ownership with a third-party operator; nominal sale of the hall and park to a local non-profit; surplus and sell the hall on the open market to the highest bidder and retain the park; surplus and sell the hall building and parkland on the open market to the highest bidder.
When questioned by Coun. Adam Veri, Norfolk CAO Al Meneses said determining whether surplus county buildings should be sold through a deal with a non-profit or to the highest bidder is a “difficult balancing act.” But he said the final decisions are always made by council.
Norman said the Vittoria and District Foundation may consider forming a charitable group to buy their beloved but battered town hall.
“We know we can apply for grants to do the repair,” she said. “And sweat equity does a lot.”
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