Notice of FOA 2014 Annual General Meeting

THE FRIENDS OF AUCHMAR
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING!

When: Thursday, October 9th, 2014 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Where: The Scottish Rite, 4 Queen Street South, Hamilton, Ontario (Parking behind building)

Guest Speaker: Jason Thorne, called the new architect of Hamilton’s revival, is Hamilton’s new General Manager of planning and economic development. An architect and former principal planner with the international firm planning Alliance, Jason began his job with the City of Hamilton in June 2014.

Download and print: Friends of Auchmar AGM Notice Oct 9 2014 [PDF 70.2KB]

The Spectator’s view: Auchmar saga needs to take a dramatic turn

Welcome to the latest chapter of the Auchmar saga. The details are different than in previous chapters, but the storyline is the same.

In 1999, the City of Hamilton acquired the historic home of Isaac Buchanan, built between 1852 and 1854. The estate has huge historical and heritage merit, but its value has been overshadowed by the challenges it poses. It was crumbling when the city acquired it from a developer who wanted to turn it into a subdivision at the corner of Fennell and West 5th.

Since then, taxpayers have pumped millions into Auchmar, just to keep it stable and safe. The status quo is not sustainable. A solution must be found that balances heritage value with today’s economic reality.

‘Unsolicited’ Auchmar offer catches council off guard

A surprise offer by a secret suitor to buy historic, crumbling Auchmar Estate has divided city councillors.

The city is preparing to issue a request for proposals to reuse and preserve the west Mountain heritage property, which costs taxpayers about $20,000 a year to maintain — on top of the $1.1 million spent on major rehabilitation over a decade.

But city manager Chris Murray surprised councillors Monday by asking for permission to study an “unsolicited” offer — outside the planned RFP process — from an unnamed, local nonprofit organization.

Secret non-profit wants to buy Auchmar Estate

A secret non-profit organization is interested in buying Hamilton’s historic Auchmar Estate, but councillors have turned down the idea of private negotiations in favour of a public call for offers.

Councillors on the general issues committee narrowly turned down the idea of a special negotiation, despite city manager Chris Murray arguing the nonprofit’s offer is significant and unique enough to hold off on the planned request for proposals for the historic mansion.

The non-profit has enough money to buy, renovate and maintain the building, and is “national, if not international,” said Coun. Terry Whitehead of Ward 8.