What to do with Huntsville’s CN Station?

With files from Dawn Huddlestone

Huntsville Council has some tough decisions ahead. A report presented by staff at the municipality’s General Committee meeting on June 29, 2016 is indicating it will cost the Town at least $200,000 to address the CN Station’s water issues alone. The $200,000 price tag, estimated by Pinestone Engineering Ltd., does not include the remediation of existing mould in the building and the insurer will not cover the costs.

Until a solution is found, the Suzuki School of Music, which rents the building from the Town for $6,825/year, has been relocated. The Huntville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, which first brought the mould issue to the Town’s attention, was also expected to move into the building for $7,584/year but declined until the mould issue is resolved. Staff has also been working with members of the Culture Station to relocate any upcoming events. See initial story here.

The Town turned to First General Services Inc., which provides emergency restoration services, for help. The company in turn asked Flynn and Associates Ltd., a forensic engineering company specializing in disaster mitigation assessment (as per its website), to “conduct an assessment of a potential ongoing mould growth condition within the subject building.” An analysis of the mould and required remediation was conducted by the engineering firm, which confirmed the existence of mould spores, particularly in the building’s basement, and noted that air from the basement is sucked up to the building’s main level through its HVAC system.

It is noted that a mould growth condition exists within the basement of the subject building. In our opinion, the moisture/watersource exacerbating the mould growth is related to a combination of a potentially damaged storm sewer located beneath the crawlspace, and ongoing moisture infiltration and seasonal flooding through the foundation walls, floor slab and exposed soil floor (due to a probable lack of exterior damp proofing, functioning sub-drain, and adequate ground cover).Report by First General Services

It also noted that mould remediation work should not be undertaken until the source of the problem is addressed.

Pinestone Engineering Ltd., hired by the Town, studied the building, hired an underground camera and concluded that several storm pipes were in need of being replaced, particularly the main one which runs under the building as it is blocked and/or crushed and no longer discharges storm water runoff into Hunters Bay. Its favoured remediation option involves the construction of a new storm sewer system along Burrow Pit Lane, which would see construction take place along the road rather than under the rail line.

“The installation of the storm sewer along Burrow Pit Lane could be constructed using conventional open cut methods and doesn’t require jacking and boring beneath a rail line,” it noted. Still that cost will run the municipality an estimated $200,000.

Staff also asked the engineering firm to examine the option of moving the heritage designated building to another location such as Muskoka Heritage Place.

Based on discussions with Almaguin Building Movers, a preliminary budget figure to complete the relocate and construct a new foundation at the Muskoka Heritage Place Lands is estimated to be in the $750,000 to $950,000 range. This cost doesn’t include any site development works such as parking facilities, landscaping or infrastructure servicing costs. It is recommended the Town consult with a professional building moving company to confirm/refine relocating costs.Report by Pinestone Engineering Ltd.

Committee mulled over the numbers. “I guess the question is, what alternative do we have?” questioned Councillor Brian Thompson.

Huntsville CAO Denise Corry reminded committee that council considered selling the CN station but it received push-back from the community.

She said there is further information coming on the issue that was received after the report for committee was compiled. “I think it’s difficult for committee to make any decision before we have all of the information in front of us. If I may suggest that once that information is compiled and reviewed, we bring back all of the options with all of the costs to the best of our knowledge, keeping in mind that the building will continue to be shut down,” she said.

But some councillors were in a hurry. ”Any recommendations from that would not be implemented by council until August. Could this be remedied in one month? I think the question is could our tenants be back in September or October?” asked Thompson.

“I would say two to three months. It is an unbudgeted item. We would be looking for direction about where these funds would come from. And it would have to be tendered so we are looking at a month for that process, two months for construction,” responded the Town’s Engineering Technician Brandon Hall.

In terms of accessing other funding sources, Scott Ovell, the Town’s Community Development Officer, said, “We are applying to the Canada 150 structure fund. That would offset this but the timing would be well into next year.”

The issue is expected to make its way back to the Town’s General Committee for further review at the end of July.

To see the full report click here and turn to page 95.

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