Tri-County Vanguard

Proposals on future use sought

Clark’s Harbour seeking proposals on future use of Seaside Heritage Hall

- KATHY JOHNSON tHecoastgu­ard.ca HEALTH

The Town of Clark’s Harbour is seeking proposals and feedback from the public on the future use of the historic Seaside Heritage Hall.

“We want to repurpose the building,” said Mayor Leigh Stoddart. “We’re not using it for a Seaside Heritage Hall now, that’s not to say we won’t in the future if nothing happens. We’re just putting it out there and maybe at some point we may sell the building if someone had a real interest.”

The town purchased the historic building around 2000, doing a major restoratio­n to the threestore­y structure that was once an IOOF Hall.

Since then the town has operated the building as a museum and tourist bureau on the first floor, and banquet facilities on the second storey for a time, until it was turned into a haunted house, with temporary walls left in place to accommodat­e this yearly event.

Last summer, the town’s tourist bureau was operated by volunteers as part of new Treasure Trove Gift Shop, leaving the Seaside Heritage Center unused.

“We’re hoping someone will operate it, come up with a business scheme or some other purpose,” said Mayor Stoddart. “It would be nice for it to continue as a museum” and be connected to the tourism industry “but if there are other options that serve the community better then we’ll take a look at it for sure but I wouldn’t rule out what we are already doing.”

The town is accepting proposals and suggestion­s from the public on the future use of the building until Jan. 26 via email at clerk@ clarksharb­our.com or mayor@ clarksharb­our.com. People can also mail proposals to the town at Box 160, Clark’s Harbour, B0W 1P0.

The hall does have kitchen facilities and houses a fairly large artifact collection related to the fishing industry, local sports and “a host of their things,” the mayor added. The Town of Clark’s Harbour is seeking proposals and feedback from the public on the future use of the historic Seaside Heritage Hall until Jan. 26.

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KatHy JoHnson

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