One of Port Coquitlam's oldest buildings has been renovated and is starting its new life as a community centre for adults with developmental disabilities.
After a year of renovations, painting and moving in, the Community Integration Services Society is getting ready to show off its new Melissa Park Lodge offices to the public. An open house is planned for 2-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5 at 2175 Mary Hill Road.
Visitors will be surprised at what they see. Douglas fir floors gleaming as they must have done 102 years ago when they were put in by notable builder Charles Davies, a grand stair case, elegant moldings painted white and the original fireplace. The offices have all been painted in heritage colours and a computer lab has been installed on both the first and second floors for clients, as well as a kitchen for cooking classes and catering training.
"We were so excited our vision matched the vision of the building," said Shari Mahar, CISS executive director, during a tour of the offices.
The project has been 20 years in the making, with the society scrimping and saving to get enough money to purchase a building. But Mahar said she never thought the society would be completing a renovation of such scale in one of the city's oldest buildings.
Melissa Park Lodge was built in 1910 in the classic box style with a hip roof and dormer windows, although it has been added on to over the years. Wallace Fraser and his wife, Maud, were the first owners, and Maud was related to one of the first European families that moved into the area. Charles Davies, who built the home, also built Port Coquitlam City Hall and was himself city mayor.
For several years, the house provided outpatient services for patients leaving Riverview Hospital. It was closed down by Fraser Health in 2010.
The size of the building made it a perfect fit for the society which provides employment, recreation and education services for 62 clients. But there was a lot of work to be done.
To meet code and the design needs of the society, Melissa Park had to be gutted down to the lath, with the gypsum dealt with by trained asbestos workers. Stairs and ramps were installed to make the building accessible on the first and second floors and parking put in to meet requirements. Special sprinkler equipment was also added to enhance fire protection at substantial cost to the organization.
"There was a lot to it," Mahar said of the renovation, noting that the process was a bit scary but there was a lot of help from the designer, the contractor and the city.
Quest Projects, which did the construction, paid for a new TV and a stove and a grant from Chevron Canada paid for a fridge and other supplies. Mahar and officer manager Pam Galt went to auctions to buy chairs and dishes and employees, family members and other supporters paid for the window coverings.
"Everyone really pitched in," Mahar said.
Now that it's complete, the society can better support people with developmental disabilities, many of whom are volunteering or working in the Tri-Cities.
Vice-president Peter Dawe said there was no room in the old offices in Port Moody for people to hang out and do computer work before going out to work or day programs. "Now everybody comes in and works on the computers to start their day. It's changed in my mind the whole spirit of the program."
One of the highlights of the renovation for him was a surprising revelation that a section of wall to be turned into a doorway contained the original pocket doors. "We're really proud of what we got," Dawe said.
But the work isn't over yet. The society is drawing up a heritage revitalization agreement to protect its historical attributes and its use. Once it is complete, it will be Port Coquitlam's first agreement, and likely a model for protecting other buildings in the future.
On Oct. 5 members of the public can see for themselves how much value Melissa Park adds to the community.
"We do want to be good neighbours and to let people know what services are here." said Mahar.
Community Integration Services Society started 22 years ago to enable individuals with disabilities to be active members of their own communities. Find out more here.
