GENERAL COMMITTEE - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Catherine M. Conrad, Town Solicitor

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Brian G. Varner, Manager of Real Property

Regan Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-May-02

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Sale of Lunau Barn to Michael Bradshaw

Lot 5 Heritage Estates Subdivision

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That Council approve the sale of the Lunau Barn for nominal consideration located on Part 5, Plan 65R-24463 in Heritage Estates Subdivision to Mr. Michael Bradshaw, for relocation and restoration on Lot 37, Plan 65M-2761 in Heritage Estates Subdivision;

 

And that the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute an Agreement and all other documents necessary to give effect thereto, for the sale of the Lunau Barn to Mr. Michael Bradshaw, in a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor.

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to request that Council approve the sale of the Lunau Barn to Mr. Michael Bradshaw for relocation and restoration on Lot 37, Plan 65M-2761 in Heritage Estates Subdivision.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Lunau Barn is the last remaining outbuilding on the Lunau homestead. The Town issued an Expression of Interest but it did not result in any offers for the restoration of the barn on the existing site nor for alternate uses. Mr. Bradshaw has subsequently acquired Lot 37 Heritage Estates Subdivision and has offered to buy the barn for relocation and restoration on his site. Restoration of the barn on Lot 37 will preserve this historically significant building and the cost of relocation and restoration will be borne by Mr. Bradshaw.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

History and Context

In 1985, the Town purchased approximately 17 acres of vacant land from the Lunau family. The land was acquired for the purpose of developing the property into the Heritage Estates Subdivision.

On May 4, 2000 the Town acquired the remainder of the Lunau homestead, consisting of a heritage residence, a barn, a garage and two utility sheds, all situated on 1.09 acres of land. This acquisition completed the project, being the cornerstone of the subdivision.

 

Since that time, the homestead site has been subdivided to create four lots. The corner lot, including the Lunau residence, was sold. The garage (the former John Lunau museum) has been relocated to the Markham Museum and the remaining utility sheds have been sold and relocated to other lots within the Heritage Estates Subdivision. The Lunau Barn, the only remaining accessory building, is situated on Lot 5, Plan 65R-24463 (copy attached).

 

In the fall of 2002 the Town issued an Expression of Interest for the salvage, development or relocation of the Lunau Barn. No submissions were received. Additionally, Town staff approached the Markham Museum which reported that it does not want to relocate the barn to the Museum land. On February 19th, 2003, Heritage Markham considered the matter and recommended that if no proposals for preservation of the barn on its existing site were forthcoming, that the barn be preserved on a lot within Markham Heritage Estates subdivision for use as a garage or outbuilding.

 

At it’s meeting held June 30th, 2003 Council approved the sale of land; Lot 37, Plan 65M-2761 Heritage Subdivision (6 Aileen Lewis Court) to Mr. Michael Bradshaw, for the relocation and restoration of the Udell-Hamilton House. Furthermore, Council authorized staff to negotiate the terms and conditions and to finalize the sale of the Lunau Barn to Mr. Michael Bradshaw, for relocation and restoration on Lot 37 Heritage Estates Subdivision. Also on June 30th, 2003 Council passed By-Law 2004-186 designating the Udell Hamilton House and the Lunau Barn as being of historical and architectural value or interest.

 

Finalized Agreement

 

Staff has negotiated the sale of the Lunau Barn for nominal consideration to Mr. Michael Bradshaw on the following terms and conditions:

 

- Mr. Bradshaw will relocate the Lunau Barn to Lot 37 at his sole expense.

- Mr. Bradshaw with restore the Lunau Barn in accordance with the Site Plan Agreement.

- Mr. Bradshaw will demolish the existing foundation and leave the site in a clean and level

   graded condition free of debris.

- Mr. Bradshaw will provide to the Town a certified cheque in the amount of $5,000 as security.

- Mr. Bradshaw has rented the barn since August 2003 and will pay rental arrears in full to

  December 2004.                                     

 

If approved, it is anticipated that the barn will be relocated in June 2005.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That Council approves the sale of the Lunau Barn to Mr. Michael Bradshaw for relocation and restoration on Lot 37, Plan 65M-2761 in Heritage Estates Subdivision.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Outbuildings have been sold from the Lunau property for a nominal fee. The cost of relocating and restoring the Lunau Barn to Lot 37 will be borne solely by Mr. Bradshaw.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Planning Department and the Heritage Section have been consulted.

 

ATTACHMENTS:

 

1.                  Partial Copy – Site Plan

2.                  Photograph

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________          ____________________________________

Brian G. Varner, Manager of Real Property            Catherine M. Conrad, Town Solicitor

 

 

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