Budgets have been updated, as have construction plans for two major community hall projects – Granthams Hall in West Howe Sound and Coopers Green Hall in Halfmoon Bay.
The budget to restore Granthams Hall has increased to $427,000 from $405,000 to account for rising construction costs. Pending a successful federal grant through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, $100,000 would come from a short-term loan and the rest would be from a mix of gas tax and independent power projects funds.
Construction plans include replacing the roof, laying a new foundation, levelling floors, installing a wheelchair-accessible ramp and washroom, electrical system upgrades and upgrades to parking and a septic system. The improvements are expected to take six months to complete.
The SCRD purchased the 87-year-old hall in 2009 as part of the Granthams Landing water system transfer, but no asset management program was in place at the time of the purchase and it gradually fell into disrepair. It was shuttered in 2015 because of structural problems with the foundation and roof.
SCRD staff applied last December for a major grant to pay for the refurbishment but were unsuccessful and they were forced to reconsider funding options.
In July, $100,000 was received through the Box Canyon Independent Power Project and the SCRD has applied for a grant through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, with a response expected in February 2019. If that grant is received, it will be used to offset taxation required for the short-term loan part of the funding mix.
“I’m very optimistic we’ll see some results,” said West Howe Sound director Ian Winn of the grant application before declaring his support for the funding formula. “The community will look forward to seeing the rehabilitation work and the hall open.”
Two members of that community who have advocated for the hall’s rehabilitation, Jack Jory and Karen Careless, were in attendance and submitted a cardboard poster emblazoned with the names of community members seeking improvements for the hall. The poster was submitted at a Sept. 27 SCRD committee meeting.
The committee also voted on changes to the Coopers Green Hall replacement project. Higher than anticipated costs in the pre-design phase caused staff to recommend increasing the budget by $12,000.
Architects are starting construction drawings and SCRD Parks is expected to apply for a variance permit to allow the hall to be built in the same location as the original. The SCRD is also in dialogue with shíshálh Nation to see about incorporating cultural elements into the design.
Directors voted to put a capital funding plan in place that will include a partnership with the Halfmoon Bay Community Association, community donations and federal funding through a grant.
Directors also voted to dissolve the community task force at the Sept. 27 committee, following the completion of the design and its last meeting held Sept. 19.
“It was quite a nice thing to see the Coopers Hall replacement task force finish their work,” said Area B director Garry Nohr. “Hopefully the community can carry on to do their bit, too.”
The cost to construct the new hall is expected to be approximately $1.9 million.
