THUNDER BAY - The historic Bay Street Finnish Labour Temple will maintain much of its outside façade, but renovations are well underway on the inside that will see some big changes.
Brad McKinnon, the new owner of the building, said the interior has been completely gutted, bringing it back to the original frame and foundation in the basement to prepare its transformation into apartments.
“One of the biggest challenges we have seen with this building is the multitude of renovations that have happened. It’s an old building. It’s 110 years old,” McKinnon said.
“Over the years, decade after decade, different things have been done to the building. Getting back to the original foundation and the original framing was very important for us. Trying to reconstruct a building while keeping an old shell and heritage aspects, trying to add spray foam insulation, new wiring, new plumbing, update the heating system. We are trying to make the building as efficient and safe as possible, which is why we have to reframe the entire inside of the structure.”
McKinnon purchased the building for $375,000 last September after the Finlandia Association voted to liquidate the corporation last May due to a more than $1 million debt, the closure of the Hoito Restaurant during the pandemic, and RBC denying a deferral of a biweekly $2,000 mortgage payment.
“It’s an amazing building. It’s a fantastic structure,” McKinnon said. “It’s beautiful on the outside, it’s beautiful on the inside as you peel back the layers. From the old Douglas Fir beams we found in the floor and walls, the balloon framing you see in the auditorium.”
According to McKinnon, aside from the original shell, the entire building needs to be reframed, as some aspects were not deemed safe.
“We are trying to beef up different areas, the roof structure, the back wall, before we start adding new floors throughout the building,” he said.
Because of the Finnish Labour Temple is considered a heritage building, there are some aspects that cannot be changed, including the exterior façade.
McKinnon said the building’s footprint will essentially stay the same with a slightly larger east entrance facing Algoma Street and the Bay Street facing exterior remaining untouched.
“The challenge here is to maintain the original look and intention of the building,” he said. “We believe the façade facing Bay Street is a very important face for that street so you will not see anything change facing Bay Street. We will have exterior doors facing Algoma Street. We are going to work into that east and west side dimensions of the roof.”
The building will grow upwards, however, with a third floor to be worked into the attic space, additional windows, and more than 5,000 square feet added.
McKinnon also purchased adjoining property to the structure, where he plans to construct two additional buildings.
When all the renovations are done, there will be 16 units inside the building, including 14 residential units, with five on the main floor, seven on the second floor, and one third floor loft apartment.
The Hoito Restaurant and Embassy Pub will also remain, but due to the renovations needed, it will be some time before the public can return to the iconic local restaurant.
“There is extensive work that needs to be done in the restaurant,” McKinnon said. “The ventilation, a lot of the food equipment, the walk in coolers need to be completely replaced, the inside needs to be gutted out, new wiring, new plumbing, there’s so much to do it will probably come towards the tail end of the development, so I don’t’ expect it to open this year.”
The residential units should be advertised for sale this April, with closing dates set for the first units taking place by next November.
