Auchmar leasing talks commence
City still feeling out proposal by Royal Hamilton Light Infantry trust
The city and a trust linked to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry have started negotiating a leasing agreement intended to revive the historic Auchmar Estate.
City real estate manager Ray Kessler says staff hope to tell council whether the $14-million proposal to lease, restore, and repurpose the city-owned estate on the west Mountain is a “doable deal” by the end of the year.
In June, the yet-to-be incorporated 13th Battalion Auchmar Trust wowed councillors with the proposal to turn the financially needy 1854 Gothic manor and grounds at the corner of
Fennell and West 5th into a regimental museum, guest house, brew pub and public park.
Kessler says the city is doing its due diligence to ensure the group has a good business case and adequate financial resources, and that the plan is compatible with legal preservation agreements with Ontario Heritage Trust.
“I can’t say there are any red flags based on our discussions, but our discussions aren’t that far along,” said Kessler.
The trust first met with city staff two weeks ago to discuss the business case and next steps forward, according to RHLI Sgt. Brian Buckle, the plan’s pointman.
“So far, so good,” he said. “I’m extremely excited. Terrified, too, because this is a many-headed hydra. It’s a big project.”
Though the group has kept a low profile since its pitch to council, Buckle says things are “progressing rapidly.”
Buckle reiterated the goal is to fund the project via government grants and fundraising initiatives, but not local tax dollars.
He expects the trust to be incorporated as a nonprofit before the end of the year, which will get the ball rolling on fundraising.
He says they have a lawyer on board who specializes with charitable organizations.
Discussions are taking place with a preferred architect with heritage expertise.
And about a dozen potential board members, including former regimental officers and civilians, have been identified.
Meanwhile, Buckle says informal contacts have taken place with potential patrons, but formal requests for donations won’t be made until the trust is officially incorporated.
The project has RHLI’s blessing but isn’t directed by the regiment, the Department of National Defence or Canadian Forces.
Nonetheless, the connection with the fighting unit obviously runs deep. The trust will receive donations through the regiment’s foundation and advice from the regimental senate, which is made up of former Riley officers.
And a good part of the plan’s appeal is Auchmar was the country estate of Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Buchanan, RHLI’s 19th century founding commander.
Buckle says the plan will need to be somewhat flexible in order to be mindful of heritage requirements.
“One of our key things is we want to uphold the history and take care of the property, so we don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize those (heritage) easements or damage the property in any way.”
The city acquired Auchmar and its 3.8 hectares 15 years ago to save it from being turned into a subdivision. Attempts over the years to find a suitable operator or buyer haven’t panned out, and now staff figure it needs about $8 million in capital repairs.
The same day Buckle’s delegation unveiled its proposal, councillors voted to retain city ownership of the property while trying to negotiate a lease.
A couple of prickly questions come to mind at this stage: Will the trust be able to raise the necessary money? And since it can’t start fundraising until it’s incorporated near the end of the year, how will staff determine whether it has a viable business case before the year is out?
Obviously, the negotiations are confidential and both parties know more than they can say publicly. Kessler does note, however, that there are ways to evaluate the strength of the plan.
“I can’t really talk too much about how we test for that, but we will be testing for that.”