Truth About Sanford Avenue School

Background on How the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) came to receive the Demolition Permit for SANFORD AVENUE SCHOOL

SPECTATOR FILE PHOTO.

HAMILTON MUNICIPAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE — REPORT 12-004 August 16, 2012 THE HAMILTON MUNICIPAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE PRESENTS REPORT 12-004 TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND RESPECTFULLY ADVISES AND REQUESTS: 1. Sanford Avenue School, 149 Sanford Avenue North (L) (a) That the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee request that Council put a hold on any demolition permit respecting Sanford Avenue School, 149 Sanford Avenue North, until further discussion with the School Board can occur; (b) That the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee request that Council direct staff to meet with School Board officials to discuss holding an Expression of Interest (EOI) regarding the adaptive reuse of Sanford School; (c) That the adaptive reuse of Sanford School be placed as an item on the School Board Properties Sub-Committee.

HAMILTON MUNICIPAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE — MINUTES 12-007 July 19, 2012 (b) Buildings and Landscapes of Interest (yellow): (ii) Sanford Avenue School, 149 Sanford Avenue North (L) – P. Wilson --- No update

PLANNING COMMITTEE — Report 12-013 September 5, 2012 THE PLANNING COMMITTEE PRESENTS REPORT 12-013 AND RESPECTFULLY RECOMMENDS: Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee — Report 12-004 (Item 5.2) Council, September 12, 2012, Planning Committee — Report 12-013 Sanford Avenue School, 149 Sanford Avenue North (L) (a) That the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee request that Council put a hold on any demolition permit respecting Sanford Avenue School, 149 Sanford Avenue North, until further discussion with the School Board can occur; (b) That the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee request that Council direct staff to meet with School Board officials to discuss holding an Expression of Interest (EOI) regarding the adaptive reuse of Sanford School; (c) That the adaptive reuse of Sanford School be placed as an item on the School Board Properties Sub-Committee.

CITY COUNCIL, MINUTES — (12-017) September 12, 2012 Present: Mayor: R. Bratina Councillors: C. Collins, B. Clark, S. Duvall, J. Farr, L. Ferguson, T. Jackson, B. Johnson, B. McHattie, S. Merulla, B. Morelli, J. Partridge

PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT 12-013 2. Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee – Report 12-004 (Item 5.2) (Morelli/Merulla) That the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee Report 12-004 be referred back to the Planning Committee for discussion. CARRIED ______________________________________________________________________

HWDSB applied for the demolition permit for Sanford Avenue School on November 13, 2012.

The demolition permit was issued on December 21, 2012.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HERITAGE COMMITTEE

RECOMMENDATIONS?

Clr. Morelli moved a motion, seconded by Clr. Merulla to send the

Heritage Committee report back to the Planning Committee on

Sept 12, 2012, for discussion, which finally appeared on the agenda

of the Planning Committee, only on Jan 15, 2013 – where the Planning

Committee voted to receive the report with no further action taken.

HWSDB got its demolition permit for Sanford Avenue School,

unchallenged by Hamilton City Council, on December 21, 2012

Is the interior of SANFORD SCHOOL BUILDING really a Hazmat suit zone?


The people of Hamilton have been repeatedly told by HWDSB Trustees & Staff, City Staff, including the local media that SANFORD SCHOOL BUILDING is: • UNSAFE • HAZARDOUS • TOXIC

And to access this building a HAZMAT SUIT had to be worn!

This rationale was used by HWDSB to deny access to even those who were very keen on redeveloping this building into a community asset.


Well, very recent pictures of the interior of the building have surfaced in the community and they tell an entirely different story! It clearly appears that the people of Hamilton have been misled about the hazardous conditions inside this building. The HWDSB, City councillors & staff, who have facilitated the demolition permit for Sanford School must explain their actions to the community and defend their decision in light of this new evidence. Are the conditions inside this building so toxic that the HWDSB Trustees can justify denying access before Sanford School is demolished?

Judge the truth for yourself here --->>>

No “DO NOT ENTER-HAZARD” Sign. Not even a “No Trespassing” Sign !

With NO VISIBLE SECURITY


The door appears to be OPEN here. With NO VISIBLE SECURITY.





Terrazzo Floor, Walls, and ceiling

on Main floor Hallway, in excellent shape >

Classroom floor

in excellent shape >

Classroom floor


Terrazzo Floors, walls, doors in Entrance Hallway,


Brass Rails >

In excellent

shape

Terrazzo Floor, walls and ceiling

on Main floor Hallway to Gym in excellent shape >

Most Office Space in Great shape >

All Doors & Hardware of high quality.

Terrazzo Floor on Main level Hallway,


All walls, doors & hardware in good condition.

All Stairwells are of steel and in very good condition >

with minor wear.

Polished Stone cladding, with

Hardwood handrails in excellent

condition >

Minor Plaster repair and finish work on

good quality walls and ceiling >

Minor repair and repainting of stair treads >

and landing floors.

Carpet removal, >

refinishing wood floors,

and repainting walls

Terrazzo Floor on Main floor Hallway,

walls, ceiling, doors, hardware in excellent shape >

Classroom floor, walls,


Stairwell in excellent condition >

Sealing tape on insulation

of heating pipes in stairwell >

pealed back.

Leak Spot 1 >

Terrazzo Floor on 3rd floor Hallway,


< Leak Spot 2



To prevent this, all that was required was removing the pooling of

water on the roof, and patching the eroded surface.

< Minor Roof Repair work – Unattended.

Similar condition on main roof, resulting

in ‘two’ leak spots in hallway on 3rd floor.

Rest of roof in good condition.

Classroom floor, walls, ceiling and windows


Terrazzo Floor in Hallway, walls, ceiling


Vinyl Floor classroom,


Terrazzo Floor in washroom, and

fixtures in excellent shape >

Glued carpet removal stains >



Glued carpet removal stains > Hardwood floors require sanding and polishing.

Glued carpet removal spots >

Hardwood floors require sanding and polishing.

Stairwell in excellent condition >

Terrazzo Floor on 2nd floor Hallway,


No leaks here.

AS EVERYONE CAN SEE CLEARLY, THIS BUILDING

IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT,

DESPITE ITS AGE AND THE NORMAL WEAR &

TEAR OVER THE YEARS.

WHY ALL THE SECRECY AND DUBIOUS INFORMATION,

AROUND THIS BEING A ‘HAZMAT SUIT ZONE’?

THE LOCAL RESIDENTS MAINTAIN THAT THEY HAVE NOT

BEEN CONSULTED ON THIS DEMOLITION.

IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT ONLY A FEW PARENTS OF THE

CATHY WEVER SCHOOL, AND A FEW MEMBERS OF THE

PINKY LEWIS REC CENTRE, WERE CONSULTED.

THIS LIMITED CONSULTATION IS BEING PASSED OFF AS

FULL-FLEDGED COMMUNITY CONSULTATION.

WHY HAS THE HWDSB

MISLED THE COMMUNITY

ABOUT THE HAZARDOUS

CONDITIONS INSIDE

SANFORD AVENUE SCHOOL?

THE DEMOLITION SOLUTION As Proposed by City and HWDSB (next slide) With no new funding commitment by the City --till 2015-- or beyond, and a consultant report which confirms the underutilization of Pinky Lewis Rec Centre.

“The Sanford School Building is by all accounts in rough shape. Or, you have to wear a Hazmat suit to go inside!” — Anecdotal reports by HWDSB and local media

COMMON JUSTIFICATION – NOW PROVEN TO BE AN EXAGGERTION!

“WE ARE DEMOLISHING SANFORD

SCHOOL FOR GREEN-SPACE.”

BUT WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR LARGER

GREEN-SPACES WITHIN THREE MINUTES

WALK FROM THIS BUILDING!

- WOODLANDS PARK

- POWELL PARK

- TWEEDSMUIR J.C. BEEMER PARK

- CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD

PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF SCHOOL BUILDING

FOR NEW GREEN-SPACE & REC CENTRE EXPANSION

PINKY LEWIS REC CENTRE EXPANSION

EXISTING GREEN- SPACE TO BE PAVED WITH ASPHALT FOR A NEW PARKING

NEW GYM THAT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL!! (WAS THIS NOT WEVER SCHOOL’S FIRST REQUEST IN 2005 ?)

THE ADAPTIVE RE-USE SOLUTION As Proposed by Hamilton residents. (next slides) With no funding expectations from the City.

COMMON CRITICISM:

“The critics of demolition have no specific plans for developing this building.” — Anecdotal reports by HWDSB and local media

THE ADAPTIVE RE-USE SOLUTION

WILL GENERATE NEW TAX-ASSESSMENT FROM: New Living Space New Commercial Space New Studio Space IN ADDITION: A New SENIOR’S CENTRE and A REFURBISHED GYM FOR PINKY LEWIS + CATHY WEVER SCHOOL

ALL AT A SAVINGS OF $15 MILLION TO TAXPAYERS.

THE ADAPTIVE RE-USE SOLUTION

SAVE SANFORD SCHOOL SAVE THE PAST SAVE THE PRESENT SAVE THE FUTURE THINK, BEFORE YOU ACT!

THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!

We can destroy this, and remain

the same kind of people. Or we

can preserve it, and become the

kind of people, we have always

aspired to be.

Photo: Chris Healey

Documents

Truth About Sanford Avenue School