Support sought for Auchmar estate
December 19, 2005

The city is asking the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) to re-evaluate the 3.88 hectare (9.6 acres) Auchmar Estate at as a property of national interest. HSMBC advises the Minister of Canadian Heritage on the national importance of sites, leading to designation by the Minister. HSMBC has declined two previous requests for the property located at 88 Fennell Avenue West.

Auchmar is currently protected by the Ontario Heritage Trust which requires a heritage permit for any alterations, but federal recognition may provide conservation cost-sharing, and could help to fund emergency repair work that is being requested by the city's municipal heritage committee (LACAC).

Recently a structural inspection of the main house has revealed a number of structural issues including a large and diagonal crack that runs through the structure from upper floor to the basement, separation of the floor from the walls in the upper floor, separation of the north exterior wall from the interior wall at the main floor level, rotation and settlement of a north projecting bay, crumbling stone and mortar in the basement and evidence of persistent high humidity and excessive damp conditions.

Currently, there is no allocation of Capital funding to Auchmar. A reserve fund has been established to receive funds from filming activities at Auchmar that now stands at approximately $99,000. These funds are intended to offset ongoing maintenance of Auchmar.

The estate includes the main house, carriage house, dovecote, substantial estate walls, carriageways, walled garden and remains of planting beds at Auchmar remain as important features and warrant re-examination.

The mid nineteenth century gothic manor house was built for local merchant and politician Issac Buchanan. The city purchased the estate through a land trade in 1999 in response to community opposition to proposed residential development. After a failed attempt to turn the estate into a wellness centre in 2001, the estate has been used mostly for film shoots.

The Culture and Recreation Division will report back to Council in late January / early February of 2006 on the status of Auchmar, outlining a complete ten-year Capital funding forecast for necessary, ongoing repairs.

Staff reports on Auchmar can be viewed here:
http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7D8F44FD-1D81-46A7
-8C4F-9167E93531A7/0/Dec06PED05216.pdf and
http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/A256FB9A-3AED-
44BB-AA5B-8B362708B335/0/Dec06PED05191.pdf.