(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Located on the Brookside property at 390 King St. W., Strathmore Hall, Cottesmore Hall Stables and Winch Cottage have been named by the Town of Cobourg in an intention to designate as historically significant.
Bruce Hall of MHBC and heritage planner Dan Curry of The Planning Partnership spoke at Wednesday’s council meeting to ask the town to extend the deadline for their decision on this designated to March 31.
Hall reviewed the recent history of the property, including its purchase and plans by York Developments and the Litera Group for the property – a London-based firm with a diverse portfolio focusing on developments at landmark locations.
“We see this site as a very unique opportunity, given its location, its size, its proximity to the downtown and a number of amenities in terms of parks and other institutional facilities,” Hall said.
The intention is to keep Strathmore Hall and incorporating it into the development, which will include 1.5 acres of natural park-like public land and both low-density and high-density housing in a variety of modes, including some rental properties. At the southwest corner of the property, they also hope to create a commercial node.
Asked to what use Strathmore Hall might be put, Hall said, “I think our client’s vision is, because it hasn’t seen a lot of public use, they would like it to be a public building in some way, shape or form.
“It’s a jewel in the crown and a focal point. What those uses are, we don’t know exactly, but not necessarily residential – something that would help serve our community.”
No specific plans are available as yet about the other two heritage buildings, he added.
Councillor Miriam Mutton expressed concern about a commercial enterprise at the corner of King Street East and Cottesmore Avenue, which is actually between two schools.
“There are tons of bodies everywhere,” Mutton pointed out.
Hall noted that a traffic-impact study is part of the process and, in the end, some improvements may be required at that intersection.
While the motion to receive the presentation that council passed did not include the extension requested, the consensus was that the failure to extend would not significantly affect either work on the development or the historical designation process.
