Leamington council votes to continue repairs on historic Arts Centre building despite cost concerns

Leamington council has voted to move forward with the next phase of major repairs to the Leamington Arts Centre, following a lengthy debate over whether the aging, historic building is worth the long-term cost.

The decision comes after a series of staff reports and safety warnings flagged deterioration to the building’s exterior, including concerns about falling masonry.

Mayor Hilda MacDonald framed the issue as one of preserving community identity.

“It’s an iconic building in our uptown,” MacDonald said. “I’m not willing to take a chance on selling it to the private sector because we’ve seen what has happened. I don’t want our town to look like it was just born in 2025. I want our town to look like the history that it’s had.”

Council was told earlier phases of work focused on public safety, including installing scaffolding to protect pedestrians while engineers assessed the structure.

The next phase — known as Phase 3— would involve broader exterior restoration work, with costs estimated in the millions.

Chief Administrative Officer Peter Neufeld warned council that approving further repairs comes with long-term financial implications.

“We’ll make the building safe in the spring,” Neufeld said. “But at this point, it’s ‘in for a penny, in for a pound.’ What we didn’t want to have happen is council approved the $1.6 million and then we come back and say, ‘Now we’re going to need another $2 million over the next several years.’”

Some councillors argued the investment is necessary to preserve a key downtown landmark.

Coun. Paul Tiessen said council effectively made its choice last year when it approved safety work on the building.

“Why would we put the money into the east façade, making it safe, if we’re going to sell the building?” Tiessen said. “If we sell it, we lose all control of what’s going to happen there. I doubt the private sector would come in and keep it as a historical building.”

Others, however, questioned how much more the municipality should spend.

Coun. Anthony Abraham raised concerns about escalating costs and whether taxpayers could sustain them over decades.

“When I look at these costs, even if they’re spread out over twenty or thirty years, I start to wonder where that money is going to come from,” Abraham said. “We’re talking about millions of dollars, and those are public-sector costs.”

He questioned whether continuing to invest in the building made financial sense.

“At some point, you have to ask whether it makes more sense to keep putting money into a building that’s already seen its day, or use those dollars to find a more modern, financially sustainable home for arts and culture in this community,” he said.

“What material is going to cost in 20 or 40 years, what labour is going to cost — what’s going to happen in that time is unpredictable,” he said.

Despite the concerns, a majority of council supported proceeding with repairs, noting that long-term work could be phased over many years.

Coun. Tim Wilkinson said preserving the building is an investment in the town’s heritage.

“I look at this as an investment in one of our last remaining buildings that truly celebrates our heritage,” Wilkinson said. “When you travel to other communities, you see old buildings that people still appreciate and enjoy to this day.”

Council ultimately voted on directing administration to tender the next phase of exterior repairs, while leaving future upgrades to be considered through upcoming budget processes.