Building’s fate not a dead issue
Q: We noted the new Victoria Lawn administration building being constructed on Queenston Street in St. Catharines. The historic one just inside the beautiful gates to the cemetery was constructed in the mid-1850s as the cemetery and its meandering paths developed.
An earlier Standard article suggests the city will demolish this lovely old building. As much as the monuments, beautiful old trees and historic plaques throughout, the building itself is evocative.
Have city officials considered anything beyond demolition at this point? A: Victoria Lawn Cemetery’s new administration building is well under way, but no decision has yet been made about what will happen to the old house it’s replacing.
Dan Dillon, director of transportation and engineering services, said money has been set aside for demolition but the city is going to review the structure with the heritage committee before it makes any decisions about its future.
The building is not a designated heritage structure and there have been a number of additions and changes to it over the years.
“They’re going to have look at it and see if there’s certain aspects to it we may want,” Dillon said.
After the heritage committee gives its input, a staff report will go to city council dealing with whether the building should be demolished or re-purposed.
The administration building was originally constructed for the cemetery’s caretaker in 1856. It was occupied until the 1980s when the superintendent of cemeteries moved out and it was renovated to include more office space.
A study in 2009 found a vast array of deficiencies, including problems with the foundation, mechanical and electrical systems. The building doesn’t meet accessibility standards for the entrance, interior, doors, lighting and washrooms, has insufficient parking and has no sanitary sewer service.
The city can’t expand it because of nearby burial sites.
“If you’re going to keep it as a building of any kind, it would need a significant amount of work to bring it up,” Dillon said.
City council awarded a $1.8 million tender in March for the construction of a new building down the road at 431 Queenston St. on the site of the former Grantham Fire Hall.
Dillon said the construction should be complete by the end of October, at which time staff will move from the existing building. Q: How long has the Regional Chair position been around and was the first chair chosen by council? A: The provincial government handpicked Niagara Region’s first chair in 1969.
Founding chairman John Campbell was appointed by the Conservative government for a three-year term to oversee the creation of Niagara Region. That involved the unenviable task of realigning nearly 30 municipalities into the 12 we have today.
He was expected to be a “miracle man.”
“Well, I can’t lay claim to that label,” Campbell said in his acceptance speech on July 8, 1969. “As an ordinary human being, however, and an interested and enthusiastic citizen, I am most eager and honoured to help play a part in this exciting new adventure.”
Campbell had two decades of municipal political experience under his belt before becoming chair, elected in 1950 to what is now Niagara-on-the-Lake’s council and serving as deputy reeve, reeve and warden of Lincoln County.
After the three-year provincial appointment was up, Regional councillors continued to appoint Campbell as chair. He served for 16 years until he retired in November 1985 and reportedly never missed a meeting.
Regional headquarters was named The John E. Campbell Building in his honour and a plaque with the name was unveiled in 1990. Campbell died in November 1994.
Q: Re: Giant cellphone planted in Montebello, The Standard,
July 26, 2018. I'm just curious where the pictures go when you take a pic on the screen. Is there a website?
A: Sending a selfie using the “giant cellphone” in St. Catharines’ Montebello park is similar to a pocket size phone.
St. Catharines senior manager of information technology Karthik Venkataraman said an onscreen keyboard comes up and gives the photo taker the option to email or text the photo.
Bell unveiled the first of three Smart Kiosks in St. Catharines downtown last week which offer free Wi-Fi within 70 metres. The kiosk also has USB ports for free charging of devices, a 911 call button and information about the city.
Send your queries to Karena Walter by email at karena.walter@niagaradailies.com ; by Twitter @karena_standard or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/ karenawalter