PEIThe City of Charlottetown is spending $1.4 million to renovate a small community hall in East Royalty, and the price tag is sparking concern among some city councillors.Building users say upgrades are needed, despite costsRyan McKellop · CBC News · Posted: Nov 04, 2025 11:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe Heartz Hall dates back to the 1920s and is named after the man who donated it to the city of Charlottetown: Lieutenant Frank Richard Heartz. (Laura Meader/CBC)The City of Charlottetown is spending $1.4 million to renovate a small community hall in East Royalty, and the price tag is sparking concern among some city councillors.The historic Heartz Hall, which dates back to the year 1920, had to be moved slightly when St. Peters Road was widened and a roundabout was put in. City council voted to pay for the relocation, as well as major renovations. The spending was split into two phases. The first round of work took place about a year ago and cost $400,000. The second contract, for extensive interior work, came in at close to $1 million.Two Charlottetown councillors voted against the most recent round of spending, including Bob Doiron.”Council said that we were just going to put it on a foundation, and turn it so it wouldn’t be hit with snow removal,” he told CBC News.Charlottetown city councillor Bob Doiron, seen in this 2024 file photo, says he is concerned about the cost of renovating Heartz Hall, which is located in East Royalty. The city is spending $1.4 million on the project. (Sarah MacMillan/CBC)”It went from a $400,000 to a $500,000 or $600,000 project.”Doiron said that is a normal cost overrun, but then he heard about more work that needed to be done.”All of a sudden, you know, we were told that it needed a whole new makeover, so then, you know, it comes again in front of council and it’s a big expenditure,” he said.”It just seems that we’re piecemealing things where we’ll get a little bit of, you know, go ahead for council to do something, and then all of a sudden it just escalates.”Doiron said he’s not sure if the $1.4 million the city is paying is worth the effort for a building that small.”For a million and a half, we probably could have built a new building, you know, to mirror that old one.”Historical significanceCouncillor Mitch Tweel, who is the chair of Charlottetown’s public service committee, voted for the second round of funding, but said no one expected the magnitude of the costs.Charlottetown city councillor Mitch Tweel says he also has concerns about the costs associated with renovating Heartz Hall, but still wants to bring the building, which is more than a century old, up to the national building code. (Laura Meader/CBC)”When people are concerned about the total cost of this project, I share the same concerns as well,” he said.”And then you have to ask the fundamental question, how far do you go with historical buildings that have heritage significance? And, you know, that philosophical debate takes place at city hall on an ongoing basis. The Irving oil station is no different.”Tweel said there are significant costs with bringing historical buildings, like the century-old Heartz Hall, up to the national building code. “The building has to be safe, and then there’s the heritage component of the building.”Tweel hopes the site can one day be used by the public for festivals and music events.Accessibility features part of improvementsThe Adventure Group has used the Heartz Hall for many years, offering various programs from the location.Executive director Roxanne Carter-Thompson said the accessible features that are being added as part of the renovations, including an elevator and accessible entrance and washroom, are needed.Roxanne Carter-Thompson, executive director of the Adventure Group says the accessibility features set to be added to Heartz Hall are needed. (Zoom)”If I had a child that couldn’t access the building, what’s the price tag you think should be on that? Our community needs to do a better job in this area,” she said.”There’s a lot of places where people with disabilities can’t go.”The Adventure Group has been using Hailstorm Park to deliver some of its programming while Heartz Hall is under renovations, but Carter-Thompson said she’s excited to return to the hall. “You know, it is a heritage building… It’s not uncommon that people will stop by and tell their stories of how they utilized that building many years ago. And it holds a lot of history for the community.”ABOUT THE AUTHORRyan McKellop is a graduate of the Holland College journalism program and is working as an Associate Producer and Web Writer. Got a story idea? Email ryan.mckellop@cbc.caWith files from Laura Meader
$1.4M price tag for Charlottetown hall renovations sparks concern among city councillors
