SENNEVILLE – One of the oldest town halls in the West Island won’t be sticking around for a centennial celebration.
The structure that acts as the town hall for Senneville is slated to be torn down this fall and replaced with a new one.
Only 32 out of a minimum of 82 residents signed a registry on Wednesday that would have forced a referendum on the new town hall.
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“We live in a very charming and beautiful city,” town councillor François Vaqué said.
“To have a new building that fits in the character of the city, I think will just add to the charm we have in Senneville.”
The council voted in favour of a $1.8-million bylaw loan to borrow the money for a new $2.5-million structure.
The $700,000 will come from the town’s coffers.
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“We tried to save that building and the expert who came said there is no way you can save this building,” Vaqué said.
The existing structure was built in the 1920s as a private residence.
It was later sold and converted into a local police department.
In recent decades, it has served as a town hall for a municipality of 920 residents.
The problem is the existing structure isn’t up to building codes; the floors are crooked, there is no air conditioning and work space is very cramped.
“It was very cute but it was never meant for a town hall,” Senneville mayor Jane Guest said.
“It was basically kind of reconfigured throughout the years to accommodate a town hall.”
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Seven people work in the building and another four in the neighbouring public works’ garage.
In addition to a new town hall, the $2.5 million will cover new landscaping and renovating the existing garage.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for this fall with a new town hall opening in the summer of 2017.
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