Raise the Hammer

Happy 175th!

We could outfit the lighthouse with LEDs too, changing its colour to match/complement the ambient temperature and strobing red when there's an EC extreme weather warning posted for the area.

All we need is a crowdfunding KO:

"At the April 20, 2011 Emergency and Community Services Committee, Culture Division staff were directed to investigate and report on the availability of capital contributions from other levels of government, foundations, and the private sector, for the restoration of the Beach Canal Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. A 2009 assessment, identified that a capital investment of $820,060 was required to restore the Beach Canal Lighthouse and the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage.

At this time there are no identified funding programs from Federal or Provincial sources available to municipalities for the conservation and restoration of Beach Canal Lighthouse & Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. The results of the investigation into government and other public funding authorities whose objectives align with the restoration needs of the Beach Canal Lighthouse complex are attached as Appendix A to Report CS11018(a).

The absence of identified funding programs has complicated negotiations with the Federal agencies that have control of the Lighthouse property as the expectation of Federal agency staff is that the City of Hamilton would have secure funding for the restoration and maintenance of the site in place before the transfer of ownership....

Phase 1 (the restoration and stabilization of the building envelopes) is estimated at $669,250; which includes the initial capital investment for security of $22,500. Phase 2 (interior restoration and interpretation) is estimated at $150,810; which includes the initial capital investment for land use of $2,000.

At the April 20, 2011 Emergency and Community Services meeting, Culture Division staff were directed to investigate the availability of capital contributions from other levels of government, foundations and the private sector, for the restoration of the buildings and site, and report back....

The Beach Canal Lighthouse project does not meet the priorities and qualifiers of most Federal government museum or heritage funding programs. Parks Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage require the site to be under a Federal heritage designation (e.g. a designated National Historic Site) before consideration will be given for funding a restoration project. At present, the Beach Canal Lighthouse & Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage have only Provincial designation through a heritage easement with the Ontario Heritage Trust. Provincial and private sector funding program requirements indicate similar challenges. In general, municipalities are not eligible for funding under the terms of most provincial grant programs.

Further, from discussions with Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) staff, it is clear that no final transfer of the Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage to the City of Hamilton can take place without a secured restoration budget (from municipal or grant sources).

In summary, there can be, at this time, no expectation that adequate funding is available from outside agencies to support the capital costs of restoring the Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. The $820,060 cost of restoration would have to be borne by the City of Hamilton or community groups....

Alternative 1 – Access Capital Funds through a Third Party Organization

A third party organization would have access to a wider variety of available funding and would have the structure and capacity to fundraise. Grant applications would have to flow through a third party organization, with some restrictions. For example, The Ontario Trillium Foundation would consider a capital fund request in a municipally owned facility provided the applicant is eligible under Ontario Trillium Foundation guidelines and can provide proof of a minimum five-year lease for the facility. Also, priority is given to applicants that can increase access, demonstrate community need and have a strong multi-cultural community mandate. Similarly, the Federal Department of Canadian Heritage program, Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage, would be a possible funding source for a third party organization. However, the third party would have to provide proof of lease and the application would have to be linked to a legacy or anniversary; an example being the 175th anniversary of the original Lighthouse in 2013.

This alternative would also require that the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) agree to the transfer of ownership with the understanding that the site would be operated by a third party. Although this option has been discussed with both agencies, no agreements have been reached to proceed with negotiations on that basis.

Alternative 2 – Commitment of Matching Capital Funds

Any grant application submitted by the City of Hamilton or by a third party organization will, most likely, require a commitment of matching capital funds. In some cases, matching funds can come from another public source but these grants are generally not available to municipalities and would require an application from a third party. Report CS11018 Beach Canal Lighthouse & Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage: Assessment of the City’s Future Plans, received by Committee on April 20, 2011, estimated the capital investment at $820,060. With a phased approach, the initial costs would be $669,250; which includes the initial capital investment for security of $22,500 for the restoration and stabilization of the building envelopes. If the City of Hamilton were to commit matching funds, an initial commitment of $334,625 would be required by the City of Hamilton."

http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/A714CF67-D253-472F-A02B-0CF6910BA6C3/0/Dec07EDRMS_n241294_v1_8_2_CS11018_a___Beach_Canal_Lighthouse_L.pdf