Former EZT building off the market for now

The view of W.S. Rowe’s store, 86 Loveys Street, Hickson in the early 1900s. Contributed photo

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) Township’s first attempt to sell its former office was unsuccessful, prompting the municipality to pay for a pair of studies at 90 Loveys St. in Hickson.

EZT has hired separate consultants to complete a record of site condition (RSC) and a designated substance survey (DSS).

“We got our three quotes and the project is being split between two consultants,” said CAO Karen DePrest at last Wednesday’s regular council meeting. The inspections are expected to cost between $25,000 and $30,000.

“Those two projects will begin soon and are expected to be completed by early spring, I would suggest.”

There were no bids received to purchase the property at the time of closing. Several individuals and businesses asked for the sale documents, but no actual offers on the property were received. 

Council passed a resolution at last week’s regular meeting to complete the studies. 

“This will provide additional information about the property for future sale opportunities. Based on our preliminary work getting quotes for that RSC work, the process can take between six to eight months to complete, so we will now be including 90 Loveys St. as an item of unfinished business on future agendas so that staff, council and the public will receive updates on the process as they are available,” said DePrest.

“The RSC will help potential buyers in that it may remove some of the unknowns they were facing in considering the property. Any alternate use of the property will require an RSC, which will dictate what types of use would or would not be allowed, including a daycare, among others,” said Mayor Phil Schaefer.

An RSC is a legal document that summarizes the environmental condition of a property, something required under provincial law when certain types of land-use changes occur. It provides protection and adds transparency.

A DSS is an assessment required before construction, demolition, or renovation work begins on a building. Its purpose is to identify whether any of Ontario’s 11 designated substances, such as asbestos, lead, silica, mercury or benzene are present in the workplace.

These substances are regulated under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act because they can pose significant health risks. Owners, in this case EZT, must determine and disclose the presence of designated substances to contractors so they can plan the work safely and take appropriate precautions.

It is normally required when a building is being renovated, demolished, or repurposed, a contractor will be disturbing building materials that may contain hazardous substances, or when a municipality sells or transfers a building and needs to provide environmental due diligence. It will include a visual inspection of the site, laboratory testing of suspect materials and a report outlining remediation tools, if necessary.

“The RSC will determine if there are contaminants on the site and if contaminants do not exceed the maximums, that a more sensitive use, residential or daycare, for example, could be considered. The DSS would identify any hazardous materials within the building,” said Schaefer.

The Gazette asked Schaefer why studies weren’t done prior to the tender process. He said nothing was done out of the ordinary.

“It is not uncommon to offer properties like this for sale in an as-is condition, which is what we initially did. Obtaining the studies will provide a clearer picture of the property and could potentially increase the pool of interested parties, as well as favourably affect the value.”

He added not having more information about the condition of the site could have been a barrier, but the township is ready to deal with whatever comes out of the studies.

“There are probably a multitude of reasons why any interested bidders did not follow through with an offer. The lack of an RSC and/or DSS may have been among them. Once the studies are completed, council will meet to discuss a marketing plan, using those results as a guide.”

The former township building was constructed in 1975. The Gazette contacted the Oxford County Archives to explore what was previously on or close to the location in Hickson.

According to the Hickson Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir, 86 Loveys St. was originally a general store, operated by James Vance, before being bought by Wilfred Rowe. Apparently, after 1911, a small barn or shed was added and used as an icehouse that burnt down in 1912.

“Eventually rebuilt, the business was sold in 1917 to Andrew Calder and operated along with A. Clarence Parker,” said archivist Liz Dommasch.

“They had a small, shed-like building at the immediate south corner of the building where kerosene, oil, etc., were kept. I’ve attached three early photographs of the building, which show the lot next door where 90 Loveys St. would be situated, and it appears that a small shed-like building is visible.”  

Ninety-two Loveys Street is believed to have been built by the Hickson Cheese and Butter Company, formerly known as the Strathallan Cheese and Butter Company. The building also served as the milk plant manager’s residence, with William Bowthwell recorded as living there as early as 1895.

“The company was taken over by Canada Milk Products Limited in 1916, which specialized in powdered milk, a product in high demand during WWI. In 1925, Borden bought the company and continued to make powdered milk until 1928, when it became a receiving plant. Milk was delivered to the factory and then trucked to Tillsonburg or Belmont for manufacturing. The factories were on the east side of the home,” added Dommasch.

The Tweedsmuir mentions the manager was expected to board single employees, so it’s possible the smaller building would have housed people or was used for storage purposes.