Cox building could see tenants

After decades of being underutilized, the team established by the Shelburne Historical Society is currently attempting to gain a tenant to occupy the Cox building, before damage to the building gets out of control.

“It’s not going to fall down but we are getting rain damage right now but how long we can sustain that I don’t know,” says Chair of the team, Dave Alexander. “It is degrading and getting damaged.”

“The concept is to get a tenant who would agree to take interest in the building, maintain the building and occupy it,” explains Alexander.

Currently the society maintains six historic buildings, more of a burden than they can handle says Alexander, and there just is not enough funding.

Alexander explains that because of the buildings massive 11,200 square feet, the project does not lend itself to a community-based solution.

“I think this needs to be a cross-community function,” says Alexander. “The historical society owns the building and the Town of Shelburne has approval authority about what happens there so that really puts the two entities in partnership.”

According to Alexander, the Town of Shelburne has proven to be a useful ally in preparing for a tenant.

“I think we are all going to be on the same side on this,” says Mayor P.G. Comeau. “It takes the burden off the historical society, generates jobs and generates tax revenue, it is a win-win situation.”

The team is about to finish phase one of the project that included surmounting tasks to overcome in order to clear the way for a potential tenant.

Making the building presentable for showing was one task and a total of 900 pounds of trash, dust and accumulated junk was removed from the site. Lights were also installed throughout the building and darkening shades were hung on windows to prevent UV damage.

Another task was to identify parking options for the Cox building.

“There are options,” says Alexander, “depending on the end use and just how attractive that end use is.”

The third task was to learn more about the development process and to know how best to move forward with the project.

“We need to understand the realities of property development, the market place and the possible pitfalls,” says Alexander and to achieve this, the group created a questionnaire and set out to get the answers from developers, contractors and groups who have achieved similar goals.

Having completed the first phase the team is now ready to show the building but still there are additional questions that will need to be answered.

“What are the acceptable boundaries for the future of that building,” says Alexander, “ and how much modification will be allowed.”

The 1902 Cox building is zoned as a historical building but according to Alexander, the realities are the tenant is likely going to want to make modifications but as long as those modifications adhere to zoning stipulations, the team does not foresee an issue.

The team plans to create a document that will include input and best ideas for the building from everyone involved that will be published globally to attract possible tenants.

They will also be putting out an invitation and targeting industries that interest them to go into the space including, Environment Canada’s research vessel, various computer companies and a historic ship building museum or school.

“If we don’t ask, we won’t know,” says Alexander.

The last resort, according to Alexander, is to sell the building but it is still a possibility if the proposal is attractive enough.

One method he discussed, as an unlikely option, was to put it for sale to the highest bidder.

“With that we would lose all control and might see a McDonalds go up,” he says, “obviously we don’t want to do that but as we restrict the use and the modifications and commercial arrangements we also reduce the number of potential uses and interest.”