Cardus looks forward to negotiating a lease agreement with the City of Hamilton 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
September 18, 2019

HAMILTON, ON – Think tank Cardus is welcoming a decision by Hamilton city councillors to accept its proposal to restore and re-open the historic Balfour House, and to direct staff to negotiate a lease agreement.

“I’m very grateful to Hamilton City Council for having the vision and the courage to accept a truly unique, win-win proposal for the restoration and re-opening of Balfour House,” said Cardus President and CEO Michael Van Pelt. “Hamiltonians ought to take note that council acted in the best interests of taxpayers and the city as a whole.”

Balfour House gives Cardus the opportunity to give back to Hamilton, the city it calls home. The next step in the process will be to sit down with city officials to hammer out the details of a lease agreement so that restoration work can begin.

“Council’s decision on Balfour House is a big step forward toward preserving and promoting Hamilton’s rich heritage,” said Van Pelt. “Allowing Cardus to cover the costs of restoring and re-opening Balfour House to serve as our head office is a major part of keeping this city’s historical and architectural legacy alive.”

Cardus has offered to take the financial burden of restoration work off the shoulders of taxpayers and the City of Hamilton by restoring and occupying the unused and deteriorating Balfour House. Cardus has also committed to facilitating public access to the restored property in keeping with the low traffic and low impact requirements of the surrounding neighbourhood. The property is currently owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust, while the city manages it. The goal of OpenBalfour would be to ensure a beautifully restored and meticulously maintained property for the Ontario Heritage Trust in 2039. 

For more details on the propsal, visit OpenBalfour.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES
Daniel Proussalidis
Cardus – Director of Communications
613-241-4500 x508
dproussalidis@cardus.ca

About Cardus
Cardus is a non-partisan, faith-based think tank, and registered charity dedicated to promoting a flourishing society through independent research, robust public dialogue, and thought-provoking commentary. To learn more, visit our website, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.