Two new developments — a daycare and a building for affordable housing — are both one step closer to reality thanks to Bradford’s Heritage Committee.
Council voted to endorse the committee’s recommendation to remove the heritage protection for the large front yard at 27 Queen St. and to allow the demolition and redevelopment of the buildings at 31 Frederick St. and 123 Moore St., during the regular meeting of council Sept. 5.
The old Bradford High School at 27 Queen St. was built in 1923, but has been vacant since 2012. It was designated a heritage building in 2013, bought by the town from the Simcoe County District School Board in 2016 and sold to Eh to Zed daycare in 2019.
As part of the site plan, the western half of the lawn will be converted into parking spaces with a driveway leading to the rear of the property which will be divided, with accessible parking and a loading area on one side and an outdoor play area for children on the other.
The building and facade will still be protected under heritage status, with the only change being for the lawn — a decision Ward 3 Coun. and committee chair Ben Verkaik called pragmatic.
“It’s not changing the building and we’re allowing a daycare to open up in Bradford, and everyone on the committee thought it was important,” he said.
Verkaik added that even with the province’s goal of creating 50,000 new daycare spaces it still might not meet the demand.
“It’s really critical that we provide daycare spaces,” he said.
The old St Mary’s Hall at 31 Frederick St. is more than 100 years old and has been home to CrossTrainers Canada since 2000, which operates The Hub Youth Centre and A Hand Up Clothing Room.
WOW Living’s Bradford Out of the Cold Cafe joined them at the site in the fall of 2020.
The town donated the property to Leap of Faith Together (LOFT) Community Services in late 2021, providing LOFT the opportunity to move out of the aging building at 136 Barrie St. and create a new version of its Bradford House campus, with a five- or six-storey development that will include as many as 100 self-contained units, adding capacity for 54 more residents than the current facility.
The current tenants of 31 Frederick St. are expected to relocate to the town’s new community hub being built in the old Bradford Public School at 177 Church St., which is expected to open next month.
The redevelopment is also set to include the small bungalow at 123 Moore St. which became home to The Helping Hand Food Bank after it was incorporated in 1991.
Based on information from Roy Tuner of Lett Architects, the committee determined there wasn’t enough heritage merit to protect the buildings, especially 123 Moore St.
“It was a pretty simple evaluation because I myself volunteer at the food bank and I know the building quite well. It just didn’t have any heritage merit,” Verkaik said.
The food bank is also planning a move to the new community hub.
Both of the properties were on a list of about 390 in town which did not have heritage designation, but were recognized for the potential to one day be designated.
Being on the list provided the opportunity for a three-month evaluation before a demolition permit could be issued, and with council’s approval of the committee’s decision, LOFT can now apply for the permit.
Verkaik emphasized the need for the project.
“It’s very important, especially for the clients that LOFT serves. There really is no housing for them,” he said.
LOFT describes their role as supporting people facing a combination of physical and mental-health challenges, addiction issues, poverty and/or homelessness.
Verkaik said he was happy to see the previous council donate the property to LOFT.
“I’m very excited and totally support what LOFT is trying to achieve. They definitely have outlived their space on Barrie Street. That building has served the community for many years, over different functions, and it’s ready to be replaced,” he said.
With files from Patrick Bales
