Whitehead ‘blindsided’ by Balfour proposal
Faith-based think-tank wants to restore 1830s mansion and convert it into offices
Coun. Terry Whitehead says he isn’t the king of the city or even the mayor. But he sure expects to be kept up to speed on issues affecting his west Mountain residents.
That’s why he’s riled over being “blindsided” by the proposal from Cardus, a Hamilton-based Christian think-tank, to restore and lease the historic Balfour House from the city.
Whitehead complains neither Cardus nor senior city staff brought him into the loop, even though
they’ve been discussing the idea for several months.
“I’m not suggesting that I’m the king or the mayor. But as a courtesy, I’m duly elected to represent that area and I know the neighbourhood well.”
Whitehead didn’t hear “even a peep” about the proposal until two weeks ago when Jason Thorne, general manager of planning and economic development, gave him a heads-up that a staff report is in the works.
“It concerns me when they bypass the councillor, and that’s what they did on this file,” said Whitehead. “I think that’s a big issue in regards to process.”
Needless to say, the Ward 14 councillor was burning up the phone lines
after The Spectator reported Cardus is offering to pick up the tab for restoring and converting the 1830s stone mansion on the Mountain brow into office space.
Thorne says it’s “unfortunate” Whitehead was caught off guard, and in retrospect, staff could have spoken to him earlier.
“Somewhere in there, there was miscommunication.”
For his part, Michael Van Pelt, Cardus president and CEO, says he expected staff to inform Whitehead
during their eight months of active consultation.
“Cardus will meet with any one of the council members and if Terry would love to meet, we would love to have that opportunity as well.”
Though mollified by his phone calls with Thorne and Van Pelt, Whitehead says it’s still clear staff “dropped the ball” and Cardus could have proactively called him.
It certainly does have the appearance of a misstep, particularly since Van Pelt sees the proposal as a “city-building” project that could save taxpayers more than $1.5 million in renovations and repairs.
Whitehead says he’s all for saving tax dollars, but the unsolicited proposal sets up “sole source” challenges and the need to ensure “low impact” on the surrounding residential neighbourhood.
“I’m not saying no, but we have to be prudent in our approach.”
The Balfour property is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust and managed and operated by the city. It includes a 24-room manor, a carriage house and roughly five acres of land near the edge of the escarpment, west of Garth Street.
Originally built in the 1830s, it underwent further development in the 1850s and 1920s. It was owned by several prominent Hamiltonians, including the Southam family, whose newspaper empire included The Hamilton Spectator.
Largely mothballed with no public access, heritage conservation interns sometimes live there and carry out small restoration projects. Over the years, the city has replaced the roof and windows and opened it to film shoots.
Cardus, a non-profit charitable organization, proposes to restore the building in partnership with local companies Invizij Architects, Schilthuis Construction Inc. and Budget Environmental. Cardus will fund the restoration, but Van Pelt notes Budget Environmental has made a “major philanthropic gift” to the project.
Whatever happens, the old mansion could certainly use some tender loving care.
The property was deeded to the Ontario Heritage Trust by the Balfour family in the 1970s, but Wilson Balfour lived there until her death in 2013. Her daughter, Wilson Mann, visited the manor in May. She was “shocked” at the appearance of the interior.
She says wallpaper was removed for film shots and the original walnut floors are splintering.
“It wasn’t decrepit … it just looked dowdy.”
Mann would love to see it opened to the public in some form.
“It’s absolutely forgotten, which is too bad.”
According to Thorne, staff’s report on the proposal will go before councillors at the end of September or early October.
‘‘
It’s absolutely forgotten, which is too bad. WILSON MANN
Daughter of former resident