Newmarket's Union Hotel will be preserved despite potential new owners: town

Agreement between York Region and town will carry over to new owners of historically designated buildings

Yorkregion.com
December 5, 2018
Teresa Latchford

No matter who buys the Union Hotel, the Town of Newmarket has built-in controls to ensure the historical building’s preservation.

The properties, 425 and 431 Davis Dr., including two buildings on a quarter of an acre, hit the real estate market for nearly $1.5 million on Nov. 1 and those interested in purchasing the properties were required to have their bids in by Nov. 15, according to York Region, which owns the land and buildings.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to disclose any information with regard to the Union Hotel listing until negotiations have completed,” region spokesperson Patrick Casey replied when asked how many bids on the property were received. “Once finalized, a report to committee of the whole and regional council will be tabled.”

The upcoming report will be posted under the agendas tab at York.ca when region staff have completed reviewing the bids and have a recommendation.

The hotel was first moved from the original foundation in 2013 so new foundations could be constructed further back on the property to accommodate the street widening. The buildings were set on the new foundations the following year.

Now that the project is complete, the region considers the properties a surplus.

Under the town’s secondary plan, the property is currently zoned for mixed use allowing for a broad range of retail and service commercial uses as well as residential uses above the ground floor.

Both buildings hold a heritage designation with the hotel being circa-1882 and have been operated and hosted a number of historically significant characters who contributed to the creation of the Newmarket community.

But whomever is the successful purchaser, he or she won’t be able to just bulldoze the buildings and construct something new, Town of Newmarket development and infrastructure commissioner Peter Noehammer confirmed.

“They are historic buildings designated under the Heritage Act so they must be preserved,” he added. “Interior renovations are fine, but exterior renovations will require a review and permit from the town.”

The site plan, laying out the driveway entrance from Main Street, landscaping and more agreed upon by the region and town will carry over to the new owner.