Engineering firm JC Kenyon has completed an assessment of the Old St. Vital Church, and presented its findings, future directions and costs at Monday’s Town of Battleford council meeting. As the historic building deteriorates, council has to make a decision about its future.
According to the report, the church was built in 1883.
Some notes include: the north and south walls not being straight, the floor being uneven, the stucco being cracked and bulging outward in some places, some peeling paint, and an uneven balcony.
The condition of the wall, footing and floor structure at the northwest side of the building appeared to be the result of water infiltration. Water caused the wood to rot and paint to peel.
According to the report, some clues point to the wood floor structure reaching the end of its service life, needing to be replaced if the building is to be occupied.
To preserve the building, JC Kenyon engineer Brad Taylor recommended, among other things, repairing the stucco and footing to stop water infiltration; shingling the roof on the additions to stop water infiltration, and actively monitoring the building for water leaks.
The cost for such work is approximately $50,000, but the report states such actions won’t improve functionality, but “will assist in protecting the existing structure for future use.” Such an investment, the report goes on “is required immediately to protect the building from rapid deterioration.”
Floor structure replacement is estimated to be $90,000. Other costs to take place before occupation would include mechanical and electrical upgrades, new windows and doors, abating hazardous material, coming out to approximately $450,000 to $500,000.
Restoring the building, “including activities that would revive the historic appearance of the building,” would cost an additional $150,000 to $200,000.
The report is for information purposes and council made no formal decisions regarding the matter.
A sum of $35,000 is listed in the 2018 budget for the church’s demolition, in case that decision is made, but the money could go elsewhere. Some have expressed opposition to demolishing the church, including the Battleford and District Museum and Heritage Board, and Tammy Donahue Buziak of the North West Historical Society in a recent Letter to the Editor to the News-Optimist.
Mayor Ames Leslie said he would like to see the building stay, “but at the same time I recognize it’s a lot of taxpayers’ dollars that don’t necessarily benefit all of the community.”
Timelines for upcoming discussion and information on the matter aren’t known to the News-Optimist at this time.
