SOLD: Hamilton’s historic Treble Hall building downtown
By Carmela Fragomeni
The historic Treble Hall building downtown has been sold.
Owner Jeff Feswick doesn't hand over the keys until February but said Monday it was time to pass on his 'baby', his pet project for the past five years.
"I expect better things than I could have done," he says.
Treble Hall, built in 1879, is one of the best examples of Renaissance Revival architecture in the city. It originally had "first class" store fronts on the first floor, offices on the second, and a 400 seat assembly hall on the third floor for concerts, public meetings and theatre.
Buyer Anthony Quattrociochhi calls it "one of the most beautiful buildings in Hamilton" and says its location on a substantial corner -- at John St. N. and King St. E. across from Gore Park -- has caught his eye for the last few years.
"We want to make this a very special corner of the city," he says.
He also hopes it will bring more investment into the core by "getting people to recognize the true value of heritage properties".
Feswick tried to make a go of it by restoring and reviving the exterior, gutting the interior while keeping things of historical value and refinishing the old wood flooring.
When he rescued the neglected building at 8 John St. N., the ceilings had fallen in, allowing birds and animals and their messes into the upper floors; the windows and front façade were boarded up and in bad shape.
He bought Treble Hall -- along with the adjoining and even older 1840s Pagoda building facing King, in November 2010 for $735,000 and estimated it would take more than $3 million to bring it back to life.
He ran a few commercial ventures after his restorations -- the Moulin Rouge vintage clothing store and coffee bar on the first floor later evolved into the French-themed Moulin Rouge Cocktail Lounge for the 30-plus age crowd with its own VIP lounge, dress code and dance floor. The rest of the place has been rented out for movie shoots, fashion shoots, and parties.
"We would have expanded (the cocktail lounge) to the second floor but it never happened," says Feswick. "We couldn't sustain it fully...We were just a little too progressive at the time. You get these ideas -- they'd be great in New York or Toronto."
Hamilton wasn't ready yet, he says, adding he isn't giving up on revitalization.
"I love this city. I did everything I could and even selling this building is a strategic move for Hamilton."
Feswick, who owns Historia Building Restoration, put in close to $1 million into restoration, not counting all the blood and sweat, and sold the property for close to his asking price, he says.
He had put the property – the two adjoining buildings are under one property title – up for sale a year ago for $3.2 million.
Quattrociocchi, the owner of Yoke Group Inc., is already developing office and commercial spaces in the Victorian era building between King and Main called the Royal Brick Works.
He wanted a long closing date on the Treble property in order to have site plan approvals in place from the city and feedback on two scenarios – apartments only, or shared office spaces with some residential lofts above.
Feswick is impressed with Quattrociocchi's vision and says it coincides with his own.
"I think I saved the building. I think I did a lot for…the street and the city, but I felt I couldn't develop it any further myself with my time. I've been able to hand the baton to him."
"Nothing stays a baby forever. It has to grow up…it has to go to the next stage," he says. "I really liked the building and being part of this renaissance… (selling it) is bittersweet, that's for sure."
cfragomeni@thespec.com
905-526-3392 | @CarmatTheSpec
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/58...ding-downtown/
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