Let the bids begin
Thu Apr 24, 2008

By: By Jeff Hayward

UXBRIDGE -- Entrepreneurs wanting to set up shop in an Uxbridge heritage building can apply to do so in the near future.

Ingrid Svelnis, chief administrative officer, said during a committee meeting April 21 a tendering process (request for proposal) relating to the Uxbridge train station at Spruce and Railway streets will open in as early as two weeks.

But by the time applications are filled out and reviewed by Township officials, and other conditions such as completing a parking assessment are met, the chance of having a business running in the station this summer is slim, she confirmed.

Applications to operate in the train station will be scored in "various key areas", reads a report from Ms. Svelnis. "The scoring will be used to determine who the successful bidder will be and we feel this is the best approach to keep the process fair." Ms. Svelnis also requested a committee of staff, not councillors, be formed to review the proposals. "Then there's no politics involved," she said. But the details of how applications will be scored have not yet been released "to ensure there is no unfair advantage," noted Ms. Svelnis. Those on hand also heard officials are considering an initial five-year lease agreement with the successful bidder.

Last year, residents Kennedy and Susan Self filed an Ontario Municipal Board appeal against commercial occupancy of the more than 100-year-old building. An agreement between the Selfs and the Township was reached just before the hearing, with one of the conditions being the Township open a public request for proposal process.

According to Ms. Svelnis's report, the Township has spent $16,600 to date to avoid the OMB hearing. Of that amount, $13,400 is legal costs with another $3,200 in planning fees. Last year, Don Andrews of Don on Main expressed interest in moving his operation into the station but no formal application to operate a business in the station was received prior to the OMB hearing, councillors previously noted.

Currently, the York-Durham Heritage Railway uses the station on weekends.