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City moves to protect old Copper Cliff fire hall

Councillor calls it a ‘heritage site’

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Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini was nearly rendered speechless Tuesday when his colleagues voted in favour of his motion to protect the former fire hall in Copper Cliff from demolition or destruction.

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“Holy s**t,” he said, not realizing he was not muted during the virtual city council meeting.

Vagnini was deeply apologetic when Mayor Brian Bigger pointed out he was heard, but he was equally thrilled the motion passed.

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“What it means is that we are setting up a bylaw that will protect the building and the integrity of the building, and the way it looks at present,” he said. “If there are any changes the owners want to make, it will have to be passed by council at the time, whomever council may be at that time. This way, the people of Copper Cliff don’t have to worry about the building being demolished and something else going up there.”

Vagnini’s motion was passed unanimously and he said he was grateful his colleagues agreed with his idea.

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“I have to thank all of my colleagues for supporting me 100 per cent on that motion,” he said. “I had a victory tonight and I celebrate with all my colleagues for the good fortune of them all supporting me. I thank all the good folks sitting around the table. I think it’s a win-win-win.”

The former fire hall at 7 Serpentine St. was built in 1909 and was added to the city’s heritage register in 2014. As Vagnini’s motion indicated, it is a landmark building with strong historical links to its surroundings.

“A lot of the Italians from the Italian community put their hearts and effort into it,” he said.

The place is special. Its basement walls are three feet thick, Vagnini said – “that building is not going anywhere anytime soon.”

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During its heyday, the fire hall was the centre of the community. After its life as a fire hall, the building became a community gathering spot. Vagnini said it was used as a headquarters for the local legion and “for celebrations of all sorts,” including workshops, birthday and Christmas parties, showers and anniversary gatherings. The Citizens on Patrol group also used the building as a base.

“To the community of Copper Cliff, this building is what Copper Cliff is about,” he said last week. “It is the history; it is the people; it is the Italian community. Before they had fire trucks, they used horses and carriages, and they used to hang up their hoses after a fire. The whole community, including the people of Little Italy, built this whole thing. It is a heritage site.”

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Vagnini was growing increasingly worried about the fate of the building before Tuesday’s vote. Since it was shuttered about five years ago, he said the city was only heating it minimally with space heaters and because the washrooms were not being used regularly – and toilets were not being flushed – he was concerned things would start to corrode and fall apart.

The building was declared surplus at the Nov. 25, 2019, planning meeting and plans were made to sell the asset. Vagnini said he has no idea what it is worth, but he knows someone interested in buying the facility.

Vagnini said last week there is a buyer who is very interested in the property. He is a history buff and intends to take good care of the building.

“My favourite building in Copper Cliff is that building, and it’s time for us to let it go and let someone take over to do the proper things to maintain it so it doesn’t become more decrepit,” he said. “I’m very excited and I think for the community of Copper Cliff, this is a real win.”

mkkeown@postmedia.com
Twitter: @marykkeown
705 674 5271 ext. 505235

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