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The demolition, renovation, and construction work for Cornwall’s arts and culture centre is being delayed.

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General manager of planning, development and recreation James Fawthrop confirmed the delay in emails on Monday, in response to an inquiry made last week about most of the work at the site being paused.

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“As we are entering the winter, the contractor is mobilized to secure and heat the site to ensure the city’s future art centre investments are protected,” Fawthrop wrote. “We have encountered challenges to meet the project timelines as we have not been successful at obtaining the necessary permission from the neighbouring property owner to access a portion of their property to advance the art centre construction efforts.”

When asked if there was a stop-work order in place at the site, Fawthrop said no such order has been issued by the city’s building department, reiterating the reason for delay stated above. City council discussed an arts centre update in private on Oct. 23, under an exemption covering negotiations.

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Laurin & Company, which holds the almost $10.4-million contract to redevelop 159 Pitt St. from a former bank branch into the city’s arts and culture centre, had a larger crew on site and in the area than it does now. On Monday, a Laurin vehicle was parked behind the property, and one worker could be seen on the roof. Construction fencing surrounds the rear of the property, with a steel structure in place to stabilize its Pitt Street facade.

The community has raised a $1,386,105.95 — and counting — contribution towards construction under the Be The Link fundraising campaign.

The city’s reference to “the neighbouring property owner” didn’t specify who that owner is. Land registry mapping shows the property at 159 Pitt St. abuts both 155-157 Pitt St. and 163-167 Pitt St., with the east side also abutting portions of 8 Second St. E. and 16 Second St. E.

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Rothmar Holdings Inc. owns 155-157 Pitt St., which is one of four properties the development company is suing the City of Cornwall over, seeking an Ontario Superior Court ruling to allow a denied building permit for renovations within that property. The denied permits are front and centre in the company’s $21-million lawsuit against the city filed in Ottawa court this summer.

At the start of 2023, 163-167 Pitt St. was listed for sale at $799,000, though the listing no longer appears on realtor.ca, or the listing agent’s website. In Rothmar’s statement of claim in the $21-million lawsuit filed on July 17, the company stated it owns 163-167 Pitt St.

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Rothmar listed both properties as impacted by the start of construction and demolition at 159 Pitt St., and claimed the city didn’t advise it that work was starting, or respond to a request to take basic measures to protect its properties. Cornwall denied these allegations in its statement of defence, laying out the various times Rothmar was sent information about the project.

When asked if Rothmar had a role in the work stoppage at 159 Pitt St., Jeff Polowin of the PR firm Edelman Global Advisory replied no.

“The city did not consult Rothmar on its decision to stop work on the arts and culture centre. Rothmar has been focused on trying to get the four building permits that it applied for…” Polowin wrote. “Most recently, Rothmar made a number of proposals to the city in an attempt to resolve the city’s complaints amicably in advance of the Jan. 9 court date, but the city has maintained most of its denials and also raised entirely new complaints.”

Court records show a pre-trial conference for the four building permit-related lawsuits on Dec. 12, ahead of the Jan. 9 date.

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