Tag Archives: City Council

City will keep Auchmar Estate in public hands!

Auchmar Estate to remain in Public Hands with City Ownership

The city presented its Auchmar Operations Plan to council today.

A majority of councillors voted Wednesday to try to negotiate a lease or operating agreement for the historic Mountain estate – but retain city ownership regardless.

If those negotiations fail, city staff will bring back an in-house repair and “adaptive reuse” plan for the crumbling heritage building, which needs $8 million in work to open totally to the public.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger and ward Councillor Terry Whitehead both pushed to end the city’s on-again, off-again pursuit of a private sector sale.

We are thrilled with the city council’s decision today to Keep Auchmar in Public Hands. Ultimately, this is the right way to go. We are confident that ultimately a sustainable adaptive reuse plan will come together for the Auchmar Estate.

The city will keep Auchmar Estate in public hands. A majority of councillors voted Wednesday to try to negotiate a lease or operating agreement for the historic Mountain estate – but retain city ownership regardless.

More information is available in the Spectator Article.

Stay tuned for further news and developments.

IMPORTANT AUCHMAR MEETING – City Hall Wednesday June 15

IMPORTANT AUCHMAR MEETING – City Hall Wednesday June 15

Now is the most important time to stand up for Auchmar.
If you want the city to keep Auchmar in public ownership, now is the time to speak up loud and clear.

Please plan to attend the General Issues Committee meeting Wednesday June 15, where the Auchmar Operations Plan will be discussed. – Please refer to the Meeting Agenda on the City of Hamilton website.

In addition, please email your councillor and ask you councillor to vote to continue Auchmar in public ownership and to work to identify a suitable adaptive reuse of this historic property.

Stand Up for Auchmar – May 18th Public Meeting

Are You Passionate about keeping Auchmar in Public Hands?
Act now before it’s too late!

Please plan to attend our upcoming community meeting, Stand Up For Auchmar. The meeting will be taking place on Wednesday May 18, 5pm to 7pm at The Hamilton Club, 6 Main St. East, Hamilton.

The purpose of the meeting is to make the case to keep the Auchmar Estate in public ownership thus maximizing the various year-round benefits accruing to residents and visitors alike.

The meeting will open with a talk by Marvin Ryder, professor with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, on best practices in the effective adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.

Read the full Media Release Here -> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18-May-2016, Hamilton ON: Friends of Auchmar Community Meeting – Stand Up for Auchmar

Seating is limited.

RSVP: membership@friendsofauchmar.ca

Sale of Auchmar Estate On Hold for Six Months

Public organizations will get one more shot at operating Auchmar Estate.
City Councillors voted 12-3 in favour of Councillor Terry Whitehead’s motion to suspend the private sale process and current negotiations with potential buyers of the Auchmar Estate for six months to give residents one more shot at keeping the heritage building in public hands.

Terry Whitehead urged councillors Wednesday to put off any sale negotiations for six months to give a recently formed “roundtable” of concerned citizens and community groups a chance to discuss ways to maintain the dilapidated mansion.

City staff warned they were already negotiating with more than one serious would-be buyer, with inquiries from other “interested parties.”
But Whitehead argued that simultaneously negotiating with buyers while also studying public proposals — the previous council-approved plan — “just muddies the waters.”

Whitehead adds that the best ideas coming out of his brainstorming effort will be included in a staff report to council.

The Ward 8 Councillor argues that separate that public and private processes will benefit all parties involved, by making sure the process does not “muddy the water”.

The Friends of Auchmar suggest a range of possible uses for the sprawling property from community gardens and artist’s lofts to weddings, conferences and public tours.

Read the full story here in the Hamilton Spectator.