“I've had a love for old buildings...the older the better.”
A young Virden woman has taken on one of Virden’s oldest buildings on Seventh Avenue, in the heart of the downtown business district.
The vacant store most recently known as the movie rental and pizzeria business Future Features, at 436, Seventh Avenue is due for renovations to bring it back to life.
The building has a future as both an upper story residence and a storefront on Seventh Street.
Building owner, Christy Gabrielle wants to return the building to a period appearance, and as such she has applied for a Municipal Heritage Designation for 436-Seventh.
Town of Virden Council gave first reading to By-Law No. 2754 on Feb. 14, for Heritage designation of the building.
Steps ahead for the heritage restoration include a public hearing, prior to second and third reading by Council.
“Possibly one of the oldest structures in the downtown.”
Gabrielle is facing a tight deadline to have the building designated as a Municipal Heritage building, before applying for a 2017 grant to create a historic facade and other period related renovations.
Completed applications for grant money must be received by the Historic Resources Branch by March 15; and the building must be legally designated as a Municipal Heritage Building at the time of application, under The Heritage Resources Act.
At the council meeting, EDM Ed Brethour presented the building’s history.
“The Building was comprised of two original structures; one was McLellan & English General Store, with McBain Hardware on the other side; both 25-foot lots under one title.
“The McBain Hardware was built prior to 1886 and is possibly one of the oldest structures in the downtown in general,” said Brethour.
“One side of the building has extensive damage and the other is not a lot better. The style of both buildings under the heritage evaluation is Romanesque Revival.”
Gabrielle explains that the right side of the building is currently occupied by a tenant, but the left side is not, due to the leaking roof.
“My main focus at the moment is finishing the main floor, right side, fixing the roof issues, and re-facing the front of the building to resemble its original style when built.”
Inspired to renovate
Gabrielle recently had a hand in helping her mother, Gwyn Dillon with a fine renovation of a Heritage building on Nelson Street. There, the lower floor became offices and the upper floor maintained the Heritage façade brick-work.
She understood what is involved in renovating these century plus buildings when she bought 436-Seventh Ave. last June.
“I finally had the means to purchase my own building.”
Heritage buildings hold an appeal for Gabrielle.
“I've had a love for old buildings and homes. The older the better,” she says, adding, “I just love the way they feel, if that makes any sense at all.”
