City's sites swing doors wide open
BY Susan Gamble
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
Fourteen sites, including church buildings, city hall, a former brownfield property and private residences, opened their doors to the curious public, who responded with enthusiasm.
Aimed mainly at adults, the tour include variety of sites, from the Cockshutt memorabilia display to the farm art studio of Marsha Edgars. For kids, there was a bouncy gym, face-painting and a Big Brother barbecue at the old Harding Carpets project – now known as the Holmedale Business Centre.
The Open Doors launch, which took place at the Morrell Street site, included the opening of King and Benton’s Holmedale Heritage Community Room, which contains artefacts and photos of the business complex that was built in sections from 1916 to 1986.
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Sat Sep 24, 2005
History, culture on display
BY Vincent Ball
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
There will be lots to see, do and learn during this year’s Doors Open Brant.
Open Doors Brant is an invitation to visit 14 sites in Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations/New Credit. The sites demonstrate the area’s cultural treasurers and architectural legacies.
Doors Open Brant also marks the official opening of the Holmedale Business Centre located at the site of the former Harding Carpets building on Morrell Street.
“A lot of work has gone into the Holmedale Business Centre and I think a lot of people will be really impressed with what’s been done there,” Chamberlain said. “They’re going to have lots going on including tours and games for the kids.”
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Sat Sep 10, 2005
Saying goodbye to Queen Street Y
BY Susan Gamble
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
There are two things that are making this goodbye bearable for the women: one is the unswerving belief that once you’re part of the Y, you never really leave it, and the other is the heavenly thought of going to a better place.
That’s the new – although temporary – Y building just blocks away on Clarence Street.
The plan is to settle in the transitional site at the old Work Wear building for several years while work progresses on a $12-million facility on Market Street South.
Down at the new site, tradesmen working with a process called Dryvit are finalizing the shape of a layer of Styrofoam on the exterior of the building. The foam helps insulate the building and is topped with mesh netting, concrete and a fine stucco.
Everyone liked the elegant look so much that it’s been incorporated into the 6,000 square-foot strength and conditioning area where the other great attribute is a huge wall of windows.
“It’s going to be just awesome in here,” raved Romanenko.
Outside, as the workers smooth the Styrofoam shell, creating a flurry of white “snow” that falls around them, Steve Charest surveys the 18,300 square-foot project with delight.
Charest isn’t just a member of the Y and its board, he’s the developer behind the project which combines two of his passions: renovating brownfield sites and the Y.
“I love this project. It gives back to the community at no cost to the community,” said Charest enthusiastically.
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