The old mechanic’s saying “There’s nothing more expensive than a cheap car” was likely in the minds of Salt Spring officials last week, as the island’s Local Community Commission (LCC) began sorting out what’s to become of their own $1 bargain: the existing Ganges fire hall.
With Salt Spring’s firefighters planning to move into their new digs at 455 Lower Ganges Rd. next to Brinkworthy Estates sometime in 2026, the turnover of Fire Hall No. 1 to the Capital Regional District (CRD) will be finalized at that low price –– and the community use of the property will have to be planned for a 1960s-era building staff say is likely to need “substantial” work.
Salt Spring CRD administration senior manager Dan Ovington said he and electoral areas senior manager Stephen Henderson had met with the CRD’s new manager of building inspections –– who he said had some experience in repurposing buildings –– at the landmark fire hall in the heart of Ganges village.
“If we want a clear understanding of what we can repurpose the building for, and what the costs are, his recommendation was to bring on an architect,” said Ovington, noting the LCC had allocated $30,000 toward the fire hall’s “repurposing, remediation or demolition” in 2025’s budget, and that the assessment could be paid for out of that.
“It was acknowledged that substantial improvements were required to the existing building, and that would likely be more costly than demolishing and starting over,” Ovington added. “But until we have that assessment, we don’t know.”
The LCC voted to approve a building code review and report on costing for various changes of use, with commissioners clearly bristling at the idea of knocking down the 65-year-old fire hall. LCC member Brian Webster noted there were “varying opinions” on the best use of the property, and acknowledging his own ideas –– that the fire hall should become a public food market –– were “strongly held.” But, he added, he hoped there was some agreement among the public in the value of keeping the old building standing.
“I believe that if it’s at all realistic, most of the existing structure must be preserved because of its heritage significance and key location,” said Webster. “In my view this must not end up being an asphalt plaza; that’s not good enough. This is not just any property, this is ‘the’ property on Salt Spring.”
Apart from renovation costs, CRD staff have warned the management, operation, repairs and regular maintenance of the fire hall will likely require additional staff support; both the CRD and the fire district “have agreed to the value of maintaining and re-purposing” Fire Hall No. 1 for use by the community, according to a staff report, “with a focus on a public food market and related uses.”
Fire district voters approved borrowing for the new fire hall in 2022, launching a $13.7-million construction effort that broke ground last October. District officials said last week the project is still on track for completion next year.