Amherstburg is seeking public input on a project to revitalize a historic home.
The Belle Vue House on Dalhousie St. will be restored, but the rest of the grounds will also be the subject of revitalization according to town officials.
Town CAO John Miceli says the restoration of the house will cost between $2.5-million and $3.5-million.
Plans for a community gathering area, an extensive garden and many other structures were revealed to those in attendance at the Libro Centre Thursday.
Additional improvements to the grounds could be added to the project if approved at an estimated cost of $9-million, according to Miceli.
The town hall meeting will gather ideas and opinions from the public to be discussed by council.
Amherstburg resident Bille Gardner is impressed with the proposal.
"Potential is worth a lot and I think a lot of people in town realize that this particular buy on the part of the town was a good one," says Gardner, who's lived in the town for more than 30 years.
She told AM800 News it's one of many projects that will focus on Amherstburg's amenities.
"I believe that we're heading in the right direction. There's the opportunity to use that to pull people who visit us who are not residents here from one end of town to the other and show all the great things that we have," she says.
Gardner says the town's rich history should be on display, and this project is a step towards adding another attraction.
"There are very few homes in Ontario even that are the age this home is," says Gardner. "It's also been multiple use, so there's a great history lesson in the fact that it was used as a soldiers retirement home after the first World War. History that we can talk about and demonstrate."
Miceli says Parks Canada Heritage Grants for up to $1-million have been applied for.
If approved, work could begin on the restoration portion of the project by fall of 2017.
Artist rendering of a restored Belle Vue House presented at a public consultation in Amherstburg June 15. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)
Artist rendering of a proposed garden on the Belle Vue House grounds in Amherstburg. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)
Artist rendering of proposed grounds improvements at the Belle Vue House in Amherstburg. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)