One of Kingston’s long-abandoned heritage buildings could soon be transformed into an upscale waterfront residential complex.
City councillors are expected to approve a heritage permit application by Kingston-based ABNA Investments Ltd. to stabilize, restore and redevelop the two storey limestone warehouse at 9 North Street, located along the Inner Harbour’s Wellington Street extension right-of-way.
Current state of the 1898-era oil storage warehouse along city’s Inner Harbour
The former Imperial Oil warehouse, which stored tins of kerosene and coal oil, is one of the last remaining symbols of the city’s industrial past. The simple rectangular building with low pitched gable roof was designed around 1898 for the Queen City Oil Company by famed architect William Newlands, who is better known for his work on the Richardson Bath House and older sections of the Marine Museum.
ABNA bought the city-owned property for a token amount in 2014 with a vision to transform the 8,000 square foot warehouse to residential. Its application to alter some heritage aspects of the property, now deemed complete by staff, will be vetted by the Heritage Kingston committee before going to council for final approval.
But time is of the essence as the vacant building, situated between Rideaucrest seniors home and Doug Fluhrer Park, continues to crumble.
“The current building is in an advanced state of disrepair,” according to a report by community services commissioner Lanie Hurdle.
The staff report also noted part of the 120 year old building is caving in:
“It has recently suffered a partial collapse of the roof on the south end of the building, including the loss of the stone chimney and part of the south wall.”
But the decaying eyesore could find a new lease on life, as the developer seeks to “convert the former industrial building to eight residential units, consisting of six two-bedroom units and two one-bedroom units,” staff noted.
Among the developer’s slated improvements to the 30 metre long by 18 metre wide heritage landmark;
- restore and repoint the entire limestone façade of the building, including the reconstruction of the south gable-end chimney to its original height,
- reconstruct the gabled roof to its former profile, with new standing seam metal roofing and two skylight boxes,
- install all new metal-clad wood windows in the existing openings and new wooden exterior doors with partial glazing and a wall mounted sign reading ‘Imperial Oil Warehouse’ or ‘Queen City Oil Warehouse.’
“Extensive interior alterations, landscaping, servicing upgrades and new vehicle access points from the terminus of North and Wellington Streets are also proposed,” said staff.
The industrial building was originally operated by Imperial Oil as a fuel storage depot until the 1960s. The abandoned property was designated a heritage site in 1987, the same year the Brownfield site was acquired by the city.
In 2013, councillors began searching for a developer that could clean up, fix up and reopen the site even though the price tag to do that may be hefty. An earlier staff report estimated a total restoration of 9 North Street would range between $3.5 million and $5 million.
Here’s an overhead view of the site of the industrial warehouse that ABNA Investments plans to restore
Council gave the site to ABNA Investments, a firm that has extensive experience in heritage and restoration projects, notably its work on the Woolen Mill and the Smith-Robinson building. ABNA officials say they see potential with the restored building’s waterfront view and 10-minute walk from the downtown.
