[SteelTown]

Comfortable accommodations for families whose loved ones are in hospital

A home-away-from-home for families of adult patients in Hamilton hospitals is beginning to take shape on Barton Street East. Renovations have begun on the old stone building next to the General Hospital and will provide accommodations for 14 guest families when it opens in 2009.

The Mark Preece Family House is a not-for-profit charitable organization that was formed by friends, colleagues and family members of Dr. Mark Preece, a respected critical care physician at Hamilton Health Sciences who lost his battle to cancer in 1997. The family house was inspired by his family’s experiences while staying at a similar facility in Pittsburgh, where Dr. Preece received specialized care, allowing them to be near him at all times throughout his treatment. After his death, they recognized the need for support for families experiencing medically stressful situations in Hamilton.

“Whether you are a local or regional resident, your home is too far away when the future of your loved one is unclear,” said Christine Bradley, Chair, Board of Directors, Mark Preece Family House.

The Mark Preece Family House will provide these families with a place to rest for a modest fee. The family will be able to stay close by their loved one’s bedside and provide continued support. Guests will also feel supported by other families staying at the house who are sharing similar experiences.

“The challenges for out-of-town families are exacerbated by the huge costs associated with hotels, meals and parking,” said Lori Issenman, Chief of Social Work Practice at Hamilton Health Sciences. “Most families cannot manage these costs and require the support of a family house.”

Guests of the Mark Preece Family House may be families of adult patients from each of the five hospitals and cancer centre at Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare. Its location, next to the General, is convenient for the many patients and families who travel from across Ontario to receive acute care at the General.

“Hamilton Health Sciences is proud to support the Mark Preece Family House,” said Murray Martin, President and CEO, Hamilton Health Sciences. “Patient and family-centred care is our priority.”

For more information about the Mark Preece Family House, contact Elaine Scrivener, Executive Director at (905) 529-0770 or visit www.markpreecehouse.ca.

[SteelTown]

Rendering....

http://www.markpreecehouse.ca/upload/file_collection/Mark%20Preece%20Family%20House%20-%20rendering.JPG

Currently...

http://www.markpreecehouse.ca/upload/file_collection/Mark%20Preece%20Family%20House%20-%20building.JPG

[raisethehammer]

yea, it looks awesome! I was there the other day. Can't wait to see what that whole area looks like in a few years.

[SteelTown]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/dahammer/mark.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/dahammer/mark1.jpg

[DC83]

Awesome!! I'm so happy HHS & the General decided to incorporate this into their plans rather than demo. Way to be a leader HHS! (especially in this city)

This whole stretch of Barton should transform radically (in a good way) over the next decade or so. I can see Barton/Victoria being a great place to go for food & drinks w/o worrying too much about crime (which is a huge problem around there now).

Let's hope that the Ferguson land gets developped properly in order to reflect the great, positive changes around here recently!

[matt602]

Now that is a restoration. Beautiful.

[HAMRetrofit]

Great project!

[Jon Dalton]

Barton St. - home to Ontario's first drive-through beer store, I believe.

[DC83]

Barton St. - home to Ontario's first drive-through beer store, I believe.

hahaha Best part; they put it in the trunk for you!!

[LikeHamilton]

Barton St. - home to Ontario's first drive-through beer store, I believe.

Almost kitty corner from it.

[flar]

hahaha Best part; they put it in the trunk for you!!

your 1000th post discusses beer :cheers:

[DC83]

your 1000th post discusses beer :cheers:

hahaha That's so sweet! I didn't even realize it was my 1000th post!
And what a great way to celebrate! Sadly, the beer I was referring to in that post was Lakeport :( hahahaha

[chris k]

http://www.markpreecehouse.ca/upload/file_collection/Mark%20Preece%20Family%20House%20-%20building.JPG

That picture is extremely misleading! I can't beleive that the building shown is in the middle of Hamilton. It looks like its in the boonies somewhere.
:cheers:

[raisethehammer]

That picture is extremely misleading! I can't beleive that the building shown is in the middle of Hamilton. It looks like its in the boonies somewhere.
:cheers:


great observation. Used to be FULL of industry and warehouses....you're literally looking at the regeneration of an old industrial district now with new hospital towers, stores planned, a new street, some reno's of existing buildings/stores etc..... a pretty exciting area of the city. I can't wait to see what happens in the next few years.

[block43]

It doesn't look like that any more. The roof and the dormers have been replaced. There is a parking lot and rough in for ferguson avenue extension around the building.

[raisethehammer]

it looks like the rendering now. I was there the other day.

[LikeHamilton]

Fire this morning at the Mark Preece Family House. Building is a total loss. Only the 4 wall left.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3793/e3b498de428b83f7de92d1amd2.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4844/9b778cbf487fa4a2d296326td1.jpg

[SteelTown]

Heritage building blaze closes Barton

Loss of family residence "a tragedy"

December 04, 2008
John Burman and Jackson Hayes
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/476776
Fire has destroyed a 132-year-old Hamilton heritage building under renovation as a family house for relatives of critical-care patients at Hamilton General Hospital.

Heavy orange flames could be seen from the Mountain and black smoke filled the north-Hamilton sky before dawn.

Flames have subsided and fire remain dousing hotspots in the burnt out shell.

The blaze was reported at 5:30 a.m. and fire crews were pulled out of the building at 6:30 a.m. as the front roof began to collapse, adopting a defensive  strategy to contain the blaze after the front wall collapsed.

Police and fire officials kept pedestrians well away from the building when a wall supporting its hydro connection fell down, laying live wires on the ground.

Barton Street East has been closed at Wellington Street and Ferguson Avenue and HSR buses re-routed. Barton Street should remain closed for several hours as will the bridge on Ferguson Avenue North.

Emergency crews closed off a large section of the  central core as the smell of smoke hung in the area

There was no one in the building at the time. Officials said the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office and the city building department have been contacted to investigate

The blaze in the former Smart-Turner pump factory on Barton Street East, west of Wellington, broke out at 5:30 a.m. and was reported by staff at Tim Hortons.

John Verbeek, Hamilton fire information officer, said the blaze started in the basement of the stone-walled building.

The building is owned by Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).

It was under renovations to become the Mark Preece Family House. Verbeek said the renovations were “at the dry-wall stage.

“It is a shame. They were going to use this like a Ronald McDonald House for people with family at the General,” he said.

Lisa Tittley, Mark Preece’s widow said at the scene she was “devastated by the fire.”

“It’s been 11 long years working towards it,” she said.

Jeff Vallentin, Hamilton Health Sciences assistant vice -president corporate and medical affairs, called the blaze “a tragedy.”

HHS donated the land and building to the Mark Preece Foundation to renovate it for the residence house, which was nearing completion.

“It is a loss to Hamilton General and other hospitals that would have used it,” he said.

“It is a devastating loss of the passion and hardwork of volunteers who worked toward this."

Verbeeek had no word yet on the cause and said there were no injuries.

Built in 1876-77 as a malthouse, the one-and-a-half story building was acquired by the city some time ago and was in the process of being designated an historical building by city council.

HHS objected to the designation as it might impede fundraising efforts for Mark Preece House.

The blaze was reported when a customer at Tim Hortons across Barton Street just west noticed flames pouring from a  front windows and smoke rising in the area.

Staff Sgt. Nancy Goodes-Ritchie said police notified Hamilton General Hospital about heavy smoke so they could make adjustments to its ventilation system.

Police quickly shut down the entrance to Hortons as well as Barton Street East at Ferguson North and Wellington although customers could still get in on foot from the Kenesky’s Sports parking lot off Wellington.

Mike Bradyk, who was having his morning coffee in Hortons, said he sat and watched it burn.

“It is sad. Going back and forth to the grocery store, I pretty much watched that place being renovated,” he said, adding the planned conversion to a residence was going to be good.

Thanks to whipping cold winds, smoke has swirled throughout the neighbourhood chasing many spectators back indoors. Smoke seemed to be blowing mainly south.

Clint Burleigh was driving his fiancé to work at the hospital.

“Coming down the Mountain I could see the flames. It looked like like a camp fire.”

Officials said the blaze appeared to be in the basement of the structure and had burned up into the first floor.

The blaze became a two-alarm fire when flames began to appear through the barn-shaped roof. An aerial truck was pouring water into the blaze when the roof collapsed.

No injuries have been reported and it is not known how long Barton Street East will be shut down.

HSR buses on the Barton route have been re-routed.

The family house project is named for Mark Preece, a critical-care physician in Hamilton who was diagnosed with cancer in 1996 and was 38 when he died a year later. Before he died, he and his family experienced a welcoming residence for adults, similar to the Ronald McDonald concept, in Pittsburgh, Pa. where he went for treatment.

The National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses is a U.S. based organization that supports more than 200 homes in North America in being more effective in service to patients and families.

A year after Preece's death, friends and colleagues founded Hospital Family Houses of Ontario, a charitable organization it's hoped will spread throughout the province.

Then the group began fundraising to open a place in Hamilton.

This is the second major fire at the building.

In December 1999, flames destroyed part of the building at the rear where thousands of hardwood moulds used to manufacture pumps and other machinery had been stored and left behind by the old Smart-Turner company.

The building was owned then by the Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Management Board which had had plans to turn it into a centre for native entrepreneurship.

[SteelTown]

:( tragedy

[FairHamilton]

How sad.

[SteelTown]

Hopefully the stones are still salvageable.

[oldcoote]

:(

[Dundasguy]

Arson?

[LikeHamilton]

Mice with matches! The Fire Marshals Office has been called to investigate.

[block43]

How unfortunate. It was turning into a jewel on barton street. :(

[flar]

Tragic, last time I was there it looked like the renos were nearly finished.

[flar]

I hope they don't just tear it all down. They should make a park out of the ruins.

[JeffTessier]

It's awful. The people behind the project must be devastated. The house had its origins in a great gesture of good will and was taking shape through the hard work and diligence of people committed to the comfort and solace of others. And it was - was going to be - a great example of adaptive and constructive reuse of property that might otherwise have sat neglected.

It's disappointing, though by now not surprising, the way the Spectator is able to view any news event through the lens of traffic flow and commerce, as if that's the angle that speaks to our common interests and perspectives. The article is titled "Heritage Building Blaze Closes Barton" and is filled with details of how traffic was effected and the means by which Tim Horton's customers were able to enter the store through the Wellington St entrance. In October when a woman was struck and killed at Main & James, the first headline was something about "Downtown Gridlock".

[MsMe]

I'm watching the news on tv right now about the horrible fire. I hate to see heritage buildings damaged in any way. I hope it wasn't arson. If it was I hope they find the culprit.

And welcome to the board Jeff. :)

[Hammer Native]

Yes tragic for sure. that hour of the morning it's likely arson rather than workers tools or mishaps. Hopefully they can salvage the stone and incorporate it in a new building, still have something unique. If Hamilton Health Sciences is tight on funds and wants to launch a campaign donation drive, I'm in. The community needs something like this.

[adam]

Hey Jeff, welcome! We need more people like you on the board.

[emge]

I certainly hope no one lets entropy and arson determine this lot's future... or the help available to families who need it.

Even with the loss of the history, that can't be undone, I hope whatever happens next makes a statement about the importance of the project and the value of transforming that property.

It would be a real shame to have an empty lot for any significant time... I just hope the arsonist doesn't feel they've "won" or that destruction of property is just tolerated and let to sit.

[LikeHamilton]

The building had all of the rooms framed and 75% of the dry wall in. They’re where appliances for the kitchen already delivered to the building.

They should be able to rebuild if the outside wall is sound. Apparently the west wall is now leaning out 12 to 18 inches and they are worried it will come down.

The building was insured for $2 million.

If anyone is interested, the fire call came into the fire department at 5:34 am and first calls came from the Tim Hortons. The fire moved rapidly through the building.

[highwater]

Awful, awful. What a tragedy, and how horrible for the family and everyone else who worked on this.

A little to soon to be suggesting arson, IMO. Alot can go wrong on a construction site.

[SteelTown]

The site was a dumping ground for various chemicals so it's not surprising the fire spread quickly.

[chris k]

Tragedy i agree but lets try and make somethign out of this.

Building was insured for two million? Why not use some of this money to make a bid into treble hall and renovate that?:cheers:

[BrianE]

Tragedy i agree but lets try and make somethign out of this.

Building was insured for two million? Why not use some of this money to make a bid into treble hall and renovate that?:cheers:

uuuhhhhh... because they still need to build a house on the Mark Preece property for the families of Hospital patients with that money.

[emge]

Saw on the news tonight they plan to move ahead as quickly as possible to rebuild.

Sad to say but I rarely expect people to have the proper insurance - its good they did in this case.

[Jon Dalton]

I think my friend said it best:
"unbelievable that an actual practical use of a heritage building in hamilton gets to going in hamilton and...it burns down. boy oh boy"

This and the government F-up in one morning made me wonder why I bothered getting up and going to work.


Edit: Wrong thread. Failed.

[LikeHamilton]

They have knocked down part of the west wall late today for safety reasons.

[matt602]

Absolutely horrible. When I heard about this I was devastated. I was so excited to see this project finished. It would have been a catalyst for that stretch of Barton.

[hammergirl]

Such a terrible loss. I guess we should be thankful though that the house hadn't opened yet and there weren't any families staying there.

They sound like they want to rebuild and I'm sure they will.

[matt602]

Went by today to have a look at the damage. It was gut wrenching. I can't see how they could possibly restore the building even if they wanted to. The entire second floor is gone/collapsed into the first floor. The place is done.

[adam]

Good thing they are rebuilding for the sake of the families who will be staying there. Bad thing we've lost a heritage building that can NEVER be replaced.

[SteelTown]

It's arson :hell:

[matt602]

Source?

[SteelTown]

CH News

[highwater]

F*ck. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck. Who would do such a thing? I hope they catch the f*ckers.

[omro]

Am just reading about this for the first time :(

How truly awful. Both my mother and I walked past that building several times during our visit in October and both commented on how great it was looking and what a great purpose for a building so close to the hospital.

I hope that whoever is responsible is made to seriously pay for their actions. I'd really like to know what their motivation, beyond pure evil, was for destroying such a well intended building. I also hope that the building is salvageable in some way and can be restored again, rather than lost forever.

[SteelTown]

Arson blamed in Preece House fire
Investigators reviewing video at scene of historic home blaze

December 17, 2008
Jackson Hayes
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/483226

Investigators believe arson is to blame for the fire that tore through the Mark Preece Family House earlier this month.

Arson Detective Marco DelConte said yesterday that police are reviewing video from surveillance cameras at the scene but would not elaborate on the evidence and why arson is suspected.

Fire officials at the time of the blaze said it started in the basement but DelConte would not confirm that.

For the members of the Mark Preece Family House board of directors, the news came as a sad continuation in an already tough month.

"It was the 21st when we lost Mark," Lisa Tittley said, referring to the 11-year anniversary of her late husband's death, which is just a few days away.

"I'm sad that some individuals did this, but it's not going to stop the resolve of the board and the community at large and our donors," she said. "We will rebuild."

The historic stone-walled building on Barton Street went up in flames around 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 4.

Crews were renovating the 132-year-old structure into a family house for people with loved ones in critical care at nearby Hamilton General.

Owned by Hamilton Health Sciences and leased for $2 a year, the project was in honour of ICU physician Mark Preece, who died of melanoma in 1997.

His family and friends had spent a decade raising funds and organizing this project and were "mere months" away from opening.

Sandy Craik, board chair and Mark's best man more than a decade earlier, said engineering and architectural crews are still assessing the building but there is hope much can be salvaged.

"We are gathering a list of what is needed," he said, adding that the goal is to rebuild the current site and they are still calculating the cost of the inferno.

Craik felt the building has become emblematic of Preece.

"He never gave up, right until the very end. Now you have this building sitting there with beautiful walls and a strong foundation that won't give up," he said. "It is strong and well built and would provide shelter for people who couldn't do it for themselves."

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 905-540-5085.

[markbarbera]

The cynic in me feels the need to point out the arson happened within days of the building receiving its heritage designation, and its owner (Hamilton Health Sciences) was fighting against its designation.

[Dundasguy]

Yeah ok, I can see Murray Martin paying some lowlife he found on Barton to torch the place.

Come on guys, arson incidents in that part of town is quite common. I can remember working at the General in the early '90s and the abandoned plants across Wellington would burn at least once a year before they were finally demolished.

[adam]

These kinds of buildings are becoming more and more valuable to us as a society. In the early 90's nobody seemed to appreciate them. Fast forward 20 years to the present... its quite a different story now. I personally don't think anyone would care if a Zeller's caught fire however. You could easily build a new one.

[omro]

Does anyone know if the building is in anyway salvagable or lost forever?

[matt602]

It's in very bad condition. The entire second floor is gone, including a lot of the stonework. It could still be saved with a lot of dedication, but it's pretty bad. I think the course of action that will be taken is some kind of facade inclusion into a new building, at this point.

[omro]

That's such a shame, I walked past that building most of the days during my visit, it looked like it was going to be a great restoration.

Worse still, the people who were counting on it for accommodation while they visit their sick loved ones. Whoever did this truly lacks humanity. :(

[LikeHamilton]

Does anyone know if the building is in anyway salvagable or lost forever?

I was by it a couple of days ago and ¾ of it has been covered in tarps as if they are trying to preserve what is left from the elements.

[Hammer Native]

Yeah ok, I can see Murray Martin paying some lowlife he found on Barton to torch the place.

Come on guys, arson incidents in that part of town is quite common. I can remember working at the General in the early '90s and the abandoned plants across Wellington would burn at least once a year before they were finally demolished.

You're right, the big Plastimet fire in 1997 was nearby and that was arson too. It was likely a bunch of punk kids running amok who haven't been taught what humanity is. (this fire.) I don't like to point a finger at any one group but I'm just going by what I see and hear a lot of.

[matt602]

To update on the building, the entire 2nd floor has been scraped off. Looks like they intend to restore the main floor, somehow incorporating it into a new structure.

[SteelTown]

Things Are Looking Up For Mark Preece Family House
Ken Mann
1/9/2009


Spirits are running higher among supporters of the Mark Preece Family House.

Their dream of building a haven for families of patients at Hamilton General Hospital has recieved a major boost.

The Chedoke Health Corporation has given the project a 100 thousand dollar donation, just over one month after the home they were building on Barton Street East was burned to the ground by an arsonist.

A spokespeson for the Mark Preece Family House Board of Directors call the donation a gift that will serve as a "rallying cry" to friends and supporters.

Executive Director Elaine Scrivener adds that it's too early to say if they'll be able to meet their original goal of completing the project by this fall.

[emge]

good, good, good. so glad to hear about that.

[SteelTown]

Man charged in $1m Preece House fire
Dr. Preece's widow: 'I feel badly' for suspect arrested in arson

January 22, 2009
Mark McNeil
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/499939

A 35-year-old man has been charged with arson in the $1-million Mark Preece Family House fire last month.

Police are being tight-lipped about the investigation, but it is known that investigators reviewed video footage from nearby surveillance cameras.

The residence for out-of-town families of seriously ill patients at Hamilton General Hospital was under construction when the fire broke out Dec. 4. It was being built from a derelict 132-year-old former machine shop on Barton Street, west of the hospital, and slated to open later this year.

In recent years the building was known as a refuge for squatters and drug users. Lisa Tittley, widow of Dr. Mark Preece for whom the house is named, said: "It was a scary looking building ... It needed a total new roof when we received it. We had to do a huge (hypodermic) needle cleanup inside."

Tittley said police contacted her yesterday to tell her about the arrest.

"I feel very mixed emotions," she said. "I don't know if someone was trying to keep warm or trying to put it on fire on purpose. The police haven't told me anything.

"I don't know what to say. I feel badly for this person."

Charged with arson to property, two counts of breach of probation and failing to comply with an undertaking is Jose Manuel DeSousa of no fixed address.

[matt602]

Very good news. Lets hope, for his sake, that he was just trying to escape the cold and things got out of hand.

[SteelTown]

Burned out Preece House no longer of heritage value

February 11, 2009
Mark McNeil
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/511300

The 132-year-old former Smart Turner building on Barton Street East, which suffered $1 million in damage in a December fire, is no longer of heritage interest.

At the time of the fire, the building was going through extensive renovations to convert it into the Mark Preece Family House, a temporary accommodation for families of loved ones in critical care at the nearby Hamilton General Hospital.

Police have charged a man with arson in connection with the Dec. 4 fire.

The Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee was looking into whether the property should receive heritage designation before the fire broke out.

But Elizabeth Manganelli, the director of economic development with Hamilton Health Sciences, says now "it is our understanding that with what little is left of the original building, heritage designation is no longer appropriate."

Art French, chair of the municipal heritage committee, says "there is very little of heritage value left.

"There are a few walls. That's about it."

Manganelli said negotiations are still continuing with the insurance company and engineers are assessing whether the remains of the building can be salvaged or whether the structure will have to be torn down to make way for a new building.

The family house, which is planned to accommodate up to 14 families at a time, is in honour of Dr. Mark Preece, an ICU doctor at the Hamilton General who died at the age of 38 in 1997 of melanoma.

[markbarbera]

The cynic in me feels the need to point out the arson happened within days of the building receiving its heritage designation, and its owner (Hamilton Health Sciences) was fighting against its designation.

Man charged in $1m Preece House fire
Dr. Preece's widow: 'I feel badly' for suspect arrested in arson

January 22, 2009
Mark McNeil
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/499939

A 35-year-old man has been charged with arson in the $1-million Mark Preece Family House fire last month.

Police are being tight-lipped about the investigation, but it is known that investigators reviewed video footage from nearby surveillance cameras.

The residence for out-of-town families of seriously ill patients at Hamilton General Hospital was under construction when the fire broke out Dec. 4. It was being built from a derelict 132-year-old former machine shop on Barton Street, west of the hospital, and slated to open later this year.

In recent years the building was known as a refuge for squatters and drug users. Lisa Tittley, widow of Dr. Mark Preece for whom the house is named, said: "It was a scary looking building ... It needed a total new roof when we received it. We had to do a huge (hypodermic) needle cleanup inside."

Tittley said police contacted her yesterday to tell her about the arrest.

"I feel very mixed emotions," she said. "I don't know if someone was trying to keep warm or trying to put it on fire on purpose. The police haven't told me anything.
"I don't know what to say. I feel badly for this person."

Charged with arson to property, two counts of breach of probation and failing to comply with an undertaking is Jose Manuel DeSousa of no fixed address.

Burned out Preece House no longer of heritage value

February 11, 2009
Mark McNeil
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/511300

The 132-year-old former Smart Turner building on Barton Street East, which suffered $1 million in damage in a December fire, is no longer of heritage interest.

At the time of the fire, the building was going through extensive renovations to convert it into the Mark Preece Family House, a temporary accommodation for families of loved ones in critical care at the nearby Hamilton General Hospital.

Police have charged a man with arson in connection with the Dec. 4 fire.

The Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee was looking into whether the property should receive heritage designation before the fire broke out.

But Elizabeth Manganelli, the director of economic development with Hamilton Health Sciences, says now "it is our understanding that with what little is left of the original building, heritage designation is no longer appropriate."

Art French, chair of the municipal heritage committee, says "there is very little of heritage value left.

"There are a few walls. That's about it."

Manganelli said negotiations are still continuing with the insurance company and engineers are assessing whether the remains of the building can be salvaged or whether the structure will have to be torn down to make way for a new building.

The family house, which is planned to accommodate up to 14 families at a time, is in honour of Dr. Mark Preece, an ICU doctor at the Hamilton General who died at the age of 38 in 1997 of melanoma.

Surely just a coincidence. A very convenient one for HHS, because now it has its avoided having to deal with a heritage building. Forunately they had the building well insured so a brand new replacement for the heritage building can be built.

[highwater]

Trying to resist the tinfoil hat, but it sure doesn't look good.

[hmagazine]

Art French, chair of the municipal heritage committee, says "there is very little of heritage value left.

"There are a few walls. That's about it."

Art French has to be the most useless person on the planet. Nothing good ever comes out of this guy's mouth...

[omro]

I'm still depressed about the building, I can remember walking past it a few times with my Mum during our October visit and saying how great it looked. :(

The fact that it was almost complete and people would have been able to stay near their loved ones this winter who were in hospital is such a hateful waste.

[BrianE]

The construction was almost finished wasn't it? Any dealings with the heritage committee must have already been worked out. Yes? No? It's my understanding that plans must be approved by heritage committee before construction even starts.

Why burn down your own building that's almost finished to avoid heritage issues that must have already been worked out?

[highwater]

Apparently the heritage designation was still pending and HHS was fighting it.

[flar]

Most owners fight heritage designations because the heritage "restrictions" make the building much more expensive to maintain.

For example, a heritage designation might force an owner to maintain windows with real muntins dividing the panes of glass rather than fake muntins stuck to a large pane of glass. Imagine how much more a broken window would cost.

[omro]

Men on video may have witnessed arson (http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/538685)

March 28, 2009
The Hamilton Spectator
(Mar 28, 2009)

Hamilton police say three men caught on a surveillance video camera may be witnesses to an arson that destroyed the Mark Preece Family House late last year.

The images were captured at 4:20 a.m. Dec. 4, about an hour before the facility went up in flames, said Hamilton police media officer Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings. A 35-year-old man has been charged with arson in the $1-million fire.

A derelict 132-year-old former machine shop on Barton Street was being renovated into a residence for out-of-town families of seriously ill patients at Hamilton General Hospital when the fire broke out Dec. 4. It was to open later this year.

Collings say arson investigators believe the three men may have seen something of significance without realizing it. The witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call arson investigator Detective Marco Del Conte at 905-540-5085.

[Duckyboy]

Wow... and I thought when I left Vancouver, I'd leave all this "greedy developers/foreign businessmen tearing and burning down my history and heritage so they can make a buck" back on the west coast.

A real shame...

[Jon Dalton]

Wow... and I thought when I left Vancouver, I'd leave all this "greedy developers/foreign businessmen tearing and burning down my history and heritage so they can make a buck" back on the west coast.

A real shame...

No, here they just tear down and burn, they don't make much.

[LikeHamilton]

It looks like they are keeping the stone works for the Mark Preece Family House. When I went by yesterday, they where power washing the stone work. :tup:

[matt602]

Really glad to read that.

[SteelTown]

Rising from the ashes
'New' Preece House

July 21, 2009
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/603749

Construction has restarted on the Mark Preece Family House seven months after it suffered more than $1 million damage in a fire believed set by an arsonist.

Supporters of the project, which will house out-of-town families of seriously ill patients at nearby Hamilton General Hospital, couldn't contain their joy yesterday at seeing work resume.

The once derelict Barton Street East machine shop, built in the 1870s, was being converted into the temporary home for up to 14 families and the work was nearing completion when the fire destroyed the building on Dec. 4.

Supporters insisted the project would be revived.

The house is named for an ICU doctor who worked at the General. Dr. Preece died of melanoma at the age of 38 in December 1997.

"I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone at Hamilton Health Sciences (which operates the General hospital) and the insurers who have allowed us to continue our mission," said Sandy Craik, chair of the board of directors for the Mark Preece Family House.

"Thank you also to the community for all of their wishes of support and financial contributions ... We remain completely committed to this community need and welcome ongoing support."

"We're very pleased to see this project moving forward again," said Murray Martin, president and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences. "We believe in this unique project."

Cost of the renovations has been tagged at $2 million, but that was before the fire. Over the last six months, the project has received numerous donations, including $100,000 from the Chedoke Health Corp.

The house was to open later this year. The new opening date is set for the summer of 2010.

The shop was once known as the Smart Turner building and was being looked at for heritage designation by the City of Hamilton before the fire. It was built in 1876-77 to produce barley malt for making beer and later became the locale for a pump manufacturer and other industrial machinery builders. It is located on Barton, between Ferguson Avenue North and Wellington Street North.

A 35-year-old man has been charged in connection with the blaze. Charged with arson to property, two counts of breach of probation and failing to comply with an undertaking is Jose Manuel DeSousa of no fixed address.

[LikeHamilton]

Preliminary hearing for this case started today in court downtown against Jose Manuel DeSousa.

[LikeHamilton]

Just out

Charges dropped in Preece House arson

TheSpec.com - Barbara Brown

Suspect was not at the scene: Crown


The Crown has withdrawn an arson charge against the man accused of setting fire to the Mark Preece Family House.

Assistant Crown attorney Brent Bentham withdrew the charge against 36-year-old Hamilton concrete worker Jose Desousa in Ontario Court this morning.

"In that the fire appears to have been under way at 5:18 a.m. and Mr. Desousa was seen by police at the Wesley Centre at 5:21, there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction," Bentham said.

The Preece house was destroyed Dec. 4, 2008 in a $1-million blaze. The 132-year-old heritage building was owned by Hamilton Health Sciences and was being renovated by Hospital Family Houses of Ontario.

The project was similar to a Ronald McDonald House and would have accommodated up to 14 families of critically ill patients at the hospital. The building, on Barton west of the Hamilton General Hospital, was near completion when it burned.

Desousa was arrested and charged with arson six weeks later.

Charges were dropped because Desousa was at the Wesley Centre on Ferguson at the time the fire was started. Police were called there because he was causing a disturbance after being refused entry. He was there about 30 minutes.

He was charged on the basis of a statement he made that night. His lawyer, Larissa Fedak, said the inebriated Desousa stated he set the fire because officials refused to let him in. She said Desousa didn't remember the next day making the remarks.

Fedak also said that video evidence cleared her client.

"Three individuals that appear to be youths were captured on video at Preece House climbing out of the east side at 4:35 a.m.," she said.

Hamilton police issued a press release in March seeking the public's help to identify three other men who were caught on surveillance video cameras leaving the building, which was under construction, about an hour before flames broke out.

See the full story tomorrow in the Spectator.

[matt602]

In better news, the building is almost done (again) and the replacement walls and roof are incredibly faithful to the original design. The replacement stonework blends right in with what was left of the original. I'm very impressed.

[SteelTown]

Rebuilding the Preece House dream

December 29, 2009
Dana Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/696784

It's cold in the Mark Preece Family House.

With exposed wooden beams, floors that aren't finished and some windows not yet installed, the chill easily winds its way through the structure.

Yet it's not hard to feel the warmth that radiates from the project.

This is the second time the house has been built. Last December, a fire that was deliberately set caused more than $1 million in damage to the Barton Street East building, as it was nearing completion.

Charges in connection with the blaze were recently withdrawn against a 36-year-old man. It's a move supported by representatives of the project.

"The overarching thing in this is that ... we're in a positive place," said board chair Sandy Craik.

"It doesn't do anything for us to look back at what happened. I'm sure it was a random act. I don't think that -- and I hope and pray that -- it would never be repeated."

Craik said he thinks, in a way, the blaze has raised community awareness about the project and what it will do.

Looking around the building still in progress, it's not hard to picture how it will become a welcoming home-away-from-home for families of patients in Hamilton hospitals. There will be 14 bedrooms with full baths on the first floor.

Someday, organizers would like to add another 10 bedrooms on the second floor. There will also be a reception area and a family room.

"It is very exciting that this project is coming to completion and that the community has rallied behind the Mark Preece Family House," said Preece's widow, Lisa Tittley.

The idea for the project was born after Preece, an ICU doctor at Hamilton General Hospital, was diagnosed with cancer. He travelled to Pittsburgh for experimental therapy and his family and friends stayed at a home similar to the one being built.

Preece died from melanoma in 1997, at the age of 38.

Those associated with the project say the need for this service is clear.

The site will be leased from Hamilton Health Sciences, which bought a large lot for staff parking, for $2 a year.

Elaine Scrivener, executive director of the house, said HHS has been a "great partner" in the project.

"This is a very great benefit to health care in Hamilton," she says.

Scrivener remembers the morning of the fire. She was at a Rotary meeting accepting a $10,000 donation for the project when someone told her what was happening.

By mid-morning, she says, the volunteer board had gathered at a coffee shop to craft a media release and a unanimous decision was made to plow ahead a second time.

"There was no hesitation," Scrivener says.

Construction started about seven months after the blaze and is now in the final stages of structural work.

The cost of the project has increased by several hundred thousand dollars because of the blaze.

Recently, Nelson High School in Burlington donated $11,000 to the project after weeks of fundraising.

Crews have now replaced materials on the second floor and managed to salvage 60 per cent of the beams on the main floor.

It's anticipated they'll be done in early January. Then the remaining work inside the home will need to be completed.

Scrivener hopes the house will be open by July.

http://media.hamiltonspectator.topscms.com/images/8f/64/0e7b9ba9416d922d94b70867938f.jpeg

[emge]

With this built, I wonder if it now be possible to get rid of the car place between the Mark Preece house and the hospital - build a Second Cup or the like.

Somewhere for the Bayfront neighbourhood to go besides Williams, for hundreds of people to get their coffee on this side of the hospital as they walk to work from their cars or come in on the shuttle, not to mention families staying in the house or visiting those at the hospital.

With the Mark Preece house, maybe that little corner has a chance with someone with a grain of vision and a little bit of capital.

And then that vacant lot kitty-corner can be transformed someday...

[matt602]

but with Hortons just across the street... well, we all know where most Hamiltonians pledge their coffee allegiance.

[LikeHamilton]

Mark Preece House opens

Hamilton Spectator 4/19/2011

It's been a long haul, but the Mark Preece House is finally open.
The House provides accommodation for those with a seriously ill family member in a Hamilton hospital.
It's taken 12 years of fundraising and a "come back" after a devastating arson in 2008.
It was the arson that became a rallying point for fundraising.
The building was once a boarded up eyesore on Barton Street near the Hamilton General Hospital, but now offers 14 rooms for guests with a kitchen and family room.

[matt602]

So great to see that project finish. I am so happy for those involved, it was devastating to see the place go up in flames years ago.