The Initiative

The Saint Andrews Civic Trust is undertaking a major initiative to find a permanent and sustainable solution for the Charlotte County Courthouse and Commons. The Courthouse and Commons is a grand space that is greatly under-utilized. Currently, it is less of an attraction and more of an administrative space. As the geographic centre of the town plat, it acts as a major focal point within the National Historic District - linking six separate National Historic Sites, of which the Courthouse and Gaol represent two on the property. There is an experience the town provides that can not be replicated in the absence of core buildings and spaces, such as the Courthouse and Commons. This project presents an opportunity to create a sustainable space that will benefit the town and residents for years to come.

The Courthouse and Commons

Charlotte County Court House is designated a National Historic Site and a Provincial Historic Site for its architectural significance and for its continuous use as a courthouse for over 180 years. The building itself is recognized for its architecture. It is an elegant structure that illustrates its functional importance through its massiveness, symmetry, balance, architectural detail and quality of construction. Built by Thomas Berry in 1839-40, this building is an example of county court houses built in New Brunswick in the mid-19th century, reflecting a vernacular building tradition with Classical principles. It is an extremely well-preserved public building constructed of local pine and set on a stone foundation.  It is one of the most significant Neo-Classical style buildings in Canada, illustrated by its strong four-column Tuscan portico and pediment on the long side of the 75 foot by 55 foot gabled block. The setting of the building, at the top of the sloped Commons Area, with its formal frontal orientation towards the centre of the town, creates an imposing public image symbolic of its purpose and ideals.

Charlotte County Court House is also recognized or its continued use as a courthouse for Charlotte County. In the early years of its history, the Court House and the front Commons Area was also the focal point for community activities such as elections, fairs, parades and official visits. It has been, for over 180 years, a central space of gathering for generations of residents.

The Process

The project will consist of three major phases leading up to a final set of recommendations to town council.

Idea Generation
​COMPLETED

January-March 2024
In this stage, we are asking interested stakeholders in the community to submit their ideas for what the Courthouse and Commons could be. Ideas must be submitted using the online form by March 31, 2024 and include sources for funding. All members of the community are invited to submit their ideas!

Financial Feasibility
​COMPLETED

April-June 2024
In this stage, each idea will be evaluated based on feasibility and financial viability. The SACT committee will validate any recommended funding sources submitted with each idea and those that meet both the feasibility and sustainability requirements will  graduate to the next stage of the process.

Community Engagement
​COMPLETED

July-August 2024
In this stage, each idea that has been approved based on feasibility and financial viability will be made available inside the Courthouse for the public to learn more and provide feedback. This stage will present an initial vision for the space and allow locals and visitors to provide their input!

By the end of August 2024, the Saint Andrews Civic Trust will present an initial set of sustainable ideas and recommendations, along with financial options. The town will then make a decision on the future of the Courthouse and Commons accordingly. As such, this is an important opportunity to design and deliver a sustainable solution!

Frequently Asked Questions

To help you with submitting an idea, or simply to answer questions you may have about this initiative, we've compiled the following Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions, you can submit them using our ​CONTACT FORM.

WHAT DOES "SUSTAINABLE" MEAN WHEN EVALUATING AN IDEA?

When we refer to "sustainable" we mean that the idea can be self-funded through a private financial donation, through grant programs (i.e. federal, provincial, or private programs), or any combination. It means that this is not something the town will need to necessarily fund directly. Sustainable also means that the idea is something that will have a lasting benefit to the residents or visitors AND that there is funding to ensure it can be maintained for many years to come without additional investment or continuous fundraising.

CAN AN INDIVIDUAL BE A SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR AN IDEA?

Absolutely! If you are an individual or associated with and individual who has an idea and/or willing to contribute the required funding to make it a sustainable option, then you can submit an idea and a financial pledge towards it. You can also be a contributor towards general ideas generated through the process, meaning that once a final master plan for the Courthouse and Commons has been drafted, you can donate towards the overall project. The Saint Andrews Civic Trust has established a charitable fund you can donate to that is tax-deductible. If you choose to contribute to the fund, all monies will be held in reserve to go towards the funding of elements of the final project master plan.

HOW DO I DONATE FUNDS TO HELP THIS PROJECT?

If you would like to make a financial donation to the Saint Andrews Civic Trust reserve fund for the final master plan, you can do so through our Online Donation Page OR reach out to us via our Contact Us page to set up a meeting. If you are donating online, please indicate in the comments field that you would like the funds to go towards the Courthouse Commons Project.

WHERE DO I FIND A LIST OF GRANTS I CAN RESEARCH AND REFERENCE FOR MY IDEA SUBMISSION?

There are several grants at the provincial and federal level we encourage all applicants to consider when submitting an idea during the first stage of this project. Many of these grants are matching, meaning that the grant will match funds up to a certain amount. Others are heritage preservation grants which again, will fund a project or idea up to a certain percentage of the overall costs.

​Below are some sample grants we encourage stakeholders to review when preparing their idea submission for consideration:

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) 
Department of Canadian Heritage Legacy Fund
National Cost-sharing Program for Heritage Places
Strategic Initiatives – Canada Cultural Investment Fund
New Brunswick Community Cultural Places Grant

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR THE USAGE OF THE SPACE?

As a National and Provincial Historic Site, the Courthouse itself has a set of expectations in terms of what can and cannot be done to the building. This means that the exterior of the structure in terms of retaining its heritage defining elements should be preserved. Further, the recent survey of residents by a consultant in 2023 showed overwhelming support by local residents that the building remain a facility for the public benefit and that limited changes be made to the exterior and interior of the building. As such, we suggest that any ideas being submitted keep these two key elements in mind: 1) Minimal changes being required to the exterior and interior of the structure, and 2) That it still be available for use by the public and visitors.

WHICH SPACES ARE BEING CONSIDERED OPEN FOR IDEAS?

When submitting an idea, this initiative will look at both the Courthouse building as well as the front Common Area (i.e. the large grassy lawn in front of it). Ideally, a comprehensive and sustainable plan for both spaces should be incorporated into a submission. However, the SACT committee is also interested in partial or individual ideas which could make up a broader master plan. For example, one idea might be for the use of the Courthouse while another might be specifically for the Commons in front of it. When reviewing all ideas, the SACT committee will take all of these into consideration, provided they are sustainable and financially viable, to create a proposed master plan for submission to council.

ARE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR THIS PROJECT?

No. This initiative is being led by volunteers of the Saint Andrews Civic Trust. Further, the goal of the final recommendation to council at the end of this initiative is to have identified alternative sources of funding to see the Courthouse become a long-lasting asset to the town, without it being a burden on taxpayers. Hence the focus on vetting ideas for financial viability and encouraging individuals to also donate to the Courthouse and Commons Project fund.

WHY IS THE SAINT ANDREWS CIVIC TRUST LEADING THIS INITIATIVE?

The Saint Andrews Civic Trust (SACT) has a long history of supporting similar initiatives in the town over the past 50 years. Seeing a need to find a sustainable solution for this important historic landmark, the board members of SACT presented this initiative to help find a solution in December of 2023 with a goal of delivering a master plan before next year's budget discussions. 

SACT is a financially stable not for profit organization, having built a trust reserve over the years through various acquisitions, restorations and the successful sale of historically significant buildings. It has a well-connected and passionate membership base in Saint Andrews, across the Province, Canada-wide, and beyond. It is also supported by an incredible network of experts from across Canada: Architects, Urban Planners, Historians, Academics, Philanthropists, etc. 

To learn more of about the many projects SACT has been involved in over the years, we invite you to CLICK HERE. ​

WHY DOESN'T THE TOWN SIMPLY PAY FOR ITS RESTORATION?

Saint Andrews, like many municipalities across the country, have limited resources and aging infrastructure. There are roads to maintain, water mains to replace, and more. When the Province downloaded this property to the town several years ago, it became an asset of the town amongst the many others taxpayers are responsible for upkeep. Given the budget constraints of the town, the Saint Andrews Civic Trust is looking for sustainable ideas and a financially sound plan for the Courthouse and Commons so that it can be a benefit to the town, its residents, and visitors - allowing the town to use its limited resources on other projects.

WILL THE TOWN CONTINUE TO OWN THE COURTHOUSE AND COMMONS?

This is a question that cannot be fully determined at this time. Part of this initiative will be understanding the various sources of funding to support a sustainable use. Some of these sourced of funding will be tied to ownership - be it the municipality or a not-for-profit entity. As such, the final recommendations to council at the end of this project will include various ownership options identified during the process and tied to funding options. These will all be items for the town council to consider. However, there are no intentions or current plans for any final private ownership for commercial use, something the consultant's report identified as being critical based on feedback from residents.

WHAT WILL THE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PHASE LOOK LIKE?

Once a set of sustainable options have been evaluated and graduate to the Community Evaluation stage, a public display of the options will be set-up inside the Charlotte County Courthouse in August. This display will include images and options for a proposed vision of the Courthouse and Commons which residents and visitors will be invited to review and provide feedback. All members of the public will be welcome to visit the display gallery, view different options, and vote on the ideas they like. This feedback from the public will be key in formulating a final vision for the Courthouse and Commons.

The Final Report

Thank you to all of the members of our community who submitted ideas and for the volunteers here at The Saint Andrews Civic Trust for collecting the ideas, researching their validity, and assembling a master vision.  You can read the full report submitted to the Town of Saint Andrews in the Fall of 2024 below.  Again, thank you to all who took the time to contribute to this project!

IMPORTANT:
None of these ideas are final nor approved, they are visual concepts raised through the aforementioned process. As such, please be respectful that these are ideas from our friends, neighbours, and fellow community members.

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Participate!

This project is now closed. However, you can still speak with SACT about donating funds towards the final master plan or supporting the restoration of the Courthouse. Simply select the link below to donate or contact SACT directly!

DONATE TO THE PROJECT

Thank You Saint Andrewe!

However you chose to support this important initiative, the Saint Andrews Civic Trust would like to thank you for participating. The history of Saint Andrews and its iconic spaces like the Charlotte County Courthouse and Commons are what make this community so attractive - both to live in and visit. Your participation in this process, be it through idea generation or financial contribution, will have a significant impact on this town for future generations!