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Days numbered for 81-year-old gazebo

Simply being old isn't a good enough reason to refurbish a gazebo in a downtown park, say city councillors.
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81-year-old gazebo at Sam Cancilla Park in downtown Barrie. Robin MacLennan/BarrieToday.com

Simply being old isn't a good enough reason to refurbish a gazebo in a downtown park, say city councillors.

The structure at Barrie's Sam Cancilla Park on Dunlop Street East, was closed in December “due to significant structural deterioration that creates a public safety risk.” The structure has been fenced off to keep the public away.

Staff presented three options to council for the gazebo which was built in 1935 at a cost of $1,556. "Minimum critical, structural repairs" would cost an estimated $40,000 and adding a wheelchair ramp is another $10,000.

Councillor Prowse says demolish the building and grade the property at a cost of $25,000. 

“I drove by it to make sure it is an unsightly as I remembered it and it was,” he said, adding that spending money to refurbish the building would be like changing the drapes in a crack house."

​“Somewtimes when things get old, they are simply old,” he said.

Councillor Doug Shipley also supports demolishing the building

“I see this as being a bit of a money pit,” he said. “When this is gone and regraded, we will have a nice view.”

Mayor Jeff Lehman spoke in favour of renovations.

“We’re going to spend $25,000 to demolish it and end up with nothing,” he said,  “or $40,000 or $50,000 to rehabilitate the gazebo.

“I think there is some history to this and people are going to miss it.”

Coun. Rose Romita agrees.

“It is well-used,” she said. “It may be by the homeless, but it is well-used.”

The gazebo is used as a shelter for Barrie Transit riders and a meeting or starting place for groups using Barrie's waterfront trail system.

It's also used by homeless people as a shelter.

Public washrooms in the basement are now barricade and the staff report advises it is "not feasible or affordable to repair or replace them.

Also, the concrete foundation needs to be repaired within the next five years, at an estimated cost of $10,000-$15,000.

“I specifically didn’t choose option two which would be “letting it sit and be the eye sore that it is today,” Prowse said.

Prowse and Councillor Doug Shipley said they spent time watching the gazebo, to see who spends time there.

“It’s not a gathering place,” Prowse said.

“When I think of putting 60 or 70,000  dollars into it . . . It’s like changing the drapes in the crack house. I don’t understand it.”

Shipley added his concerns about the structure.

“Washrooms are unusable and unfixable. I’m hearing that the concrete is ok for now … This is becoming a kind of money pit," he said. "This is not the best way to spend the money."

"When it is gone and recreated, it will be nice. A nice view will be opened up."

Mayor Jeff Lehman was the lone voice speaking in favour of spending $40,000 to redevelop the gazebo, arguing against spending $25,000 to “end up with nothing.”

The 81-year-old gazebo is not designated as an historic site, and city staff did not present information about historic significance.

Council will make a final decision on April 25.

 


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Robin MacLennan

About the Author: Robin MacLennan

Robin MacLennan has been a reporter, photographer and editor for the daily media in Barrie, across Simcoe County and Toronto for many years. She is a proud member of the Barrie community.
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