Roselawn Centre undergoing major restoration
Nearly $ 300,000 in work to restore the complete exterior envelope of the Roselawn Centre for the Arts is underway.
The project — the first phase of restoration — is expected to be completed by spring of this year.
In addition to original mansion restoration, work will be carried out on the 1930s additions on the west and north sides of the heritage building that fronts Fielden Avenue and borders part of Carter and Elgin streets, the city said in a release.
Roselawn Centre was originally built in 1860 as a threestory home with Upper Canada Victorian architecture and changed hands in the early 1870s and 1900s. It became the Port Colborne Club in 1957, and also housed a curling rink on the north side of the building. It is currently home to the Canadian Authors Series and Showboat Festival Theatre.
The city said elements such as the modified bitumen roofing and the majority of the brick and stone masonry walls that are in good condition will not be altered other than as necessary where affected by adjacent or interconnected work.
Asphalt shingle roofing on the tower and mansard roof will be replaced, including the built- in concealed cornice gutters and downspouts. Galvanized gutters and aluminium downspouts will be replaced with copper as specified, the city said.
King Construction is the general contractor on the project, with subcontractors Don Greenlaw Masonry and D. F. Brown Roofing. The total cost for the project is $ 281,600, with partial funding through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program at $ 140,000, and Friends of Roselawn Centre at $ 50,000.
The city said the exterior portion of the building was identified as needing work in both a 2010 Quartek Group condition study and an exterior building condition assessment by Shoalts Engineering in 2017.
The present flat seamed copper roofing on the front entrance vestibule and the east bay window will be replaced with similar roofing and gutters.
The flat roof on the tower will be replaced. Chimneys will get new prefinished steel caps. Dormers in the mansard roof will be completely restored including the actual windows, dormer sides and roof mouldings.
A cornice at the base of the mansard is to be completely restored including new brackets where necessary, said the city, and repairs to the soffit and frieze, and repair and replacement of the cornice mouldings will be carried out as required.
Scraping and painting of all exterior woodwork with the exception of the wheelchair ramp is included in the project.
The city said windows and doors are in relatively good condition, and prime windows are to be sealed shut and caulked for airtightness.
Storm windows are to be restored and installed with existing hardware, including repair or replacement as necessary. Restoration of doors, including fitting and adjustment as necessary for proper operation, is also part of the project, as is repainting of all exterior woodwork.
The city also said the west bay window on the south wall is to be rebuilt to make it stable, sound and weather tight.
Severely damaged bricks will be replaced, and obsolete hardware will be removed. The stone walls at the front steps will be restored as well.
The city said Phase 2 of the Roselawn project will see an assessment of the mansion area interior completed.